His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon, accompanied by Archpriest John Jillions, OCA Chancellor and Subdeacon Roman Ostash, were officially greeted upon their arrival in Yerevan, the Armenian Capital, by His Grace, Bishop Vartan, Archimandrite Mesrob Barsamian, and other clergy of the Armenian Church. The Canadian Ambassador to Armenia, John Kur—who is also Ambassador to Russia and who attended Paschal services at the OCA’s Representation Church of Saint Catherine in Moscow—also was on hand to welcome the delegation. James Winkler, President and General Secretary of the National Council of Churches in the USA, arrived on the same flight. Metropolitan Tikhon was interviewed for Armenian television upon his arrival at the airport.
Metropolitan Tikhon also had the opportunity to meet and speak briefly with Serj Tankian of the rock group “System of A Down,” whose members are all Americans of Armenian descent and who have championed raising awareness worldwide of the Armenian genocide. The group will perform in concert in Yerevan’s Republic Square on April 23 as part of the program commemorating the Armenian Genocide. This will be the first time the band has played in Armenia and marks the end of their world tour.
