I Haven't Attended a Mayor's Inauguration in 20 Years, Says Mikael Ajapahyan

The burden that Vardan Ghukasyan will carry is heavy and obligatory. This was stated today during the inauguration ceremony of the newly elected mayor of Gyumri by the leader of the Shirak Diocese, His Grace Archbishop Mikael Ajapahyan.

“I haven’t participated in a mayor's inauguration in 20 years. When I was invited to this ceremony, I didn’t place any conditions and came because it’s not the time to focus on minor issues, such as who is more important in this city; that’s not the time for such questions. The leader of the Shirak Diocese has his place, and the mayor has his. We are ready to be where our presence is necessary. Vardan Ghukasyan and I, despite being very different in character, can collaborate on important issues. The best fruit of our cooperation is the Holy Savior Church standing before you, which owes a significant part of its reconstruction to Mr. Ghukasyan,” said the Archbishop of Shirak.

According to Mikael the Archbishop, he could have argued that it is Holy Week and not attended the public event, but it is a special situation, and it’s better for presence to speak than absence: “It is love for this city that unites us.”