On The Occasion Of The 250th Anniversary Of The Founding Of The United States Of America, Armenian Spiritual Leaders Visit The White House

On Wednesday afternoon, September 16, 2026, a delegation of Armenian spiritual leaders from across the United States visited the White House in Washington, D.C., on the occasion of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States of America.

The delegation was received by President Donald Trump in the Oval Office, where the Armenian spiritual leaders conveyed their greetings and best wishes on this historic milestone in the life of the United States.

The visit was organized through the efforts of Armenia’s Ambassador to the United States, Narek Mkrtchyan, in cooperation with the White House Faith Office, including Paula White-Cain, Senior Advisor to the White House Faith Office, and Jennifer S. Korn, Faith Director of the White House Faith Office.

With the blessing of His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, His Eminence Archbishop Kegham Khacherian, Prelate of the Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America, and His Eminence Archbishop Anoushavan Tanielian, Prelate of the Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America, participated in the visit.

The broader Armenian religious delegation also included His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate of the Western Diocese; His Grace Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan, Primate of the Eastern Diocese; Bishop Mikael Mouradian, Eparch of the Armenian Catholic Eparchy of Our Lady of Nareg in the United States and Canada; and Rev. Hendrik Shanazarian, representing the Armenian Evangelical Union of North America. Together, the participants represented the longstanding presence and rich Christian heritage of Armenian-American communities throughout the United States.

The meeting provided an opportunity to highlight Armenia’s unique Christian heritage as the first nation to adopt Christianity as a state religion and the Armenian people’s enduring commitment to their Christian faith throughout centuries of profound historical challenges. It also underscored the important role Armenian churches and religious institutions continue to play in preserving and transmitting Christian faith, values, traditions, and spiritual life within Armenian-American communities and the broader American society.

On the occasion of America’s 250th anniversary, the delegation extended its warm congratulations and best wishes to President Trump and the American people. A group prayer was subsequently offered, invoking God’s blessings upon the United States and Armenia, their peoples, and all humanity, and praying for peace, security, justice, and the protection of human dignity throughout the world.

Prior to their meeting with President Trump, the Armenian religious leaders met with senior representatives of the White House Faith Office for a discussion on the importance of preserving and strengthening Christian faith and values within America’s diverse and multicultural society. The Armenian spiritual leaders reaffirmed their commitment to continuing their respective pastoral missions and service within Armenian-American communities, while contributing to the spiritual and civic life of the United States.