A new Armenian church was opened in Abu Dhabi on Friday by Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak, Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development.
Sheikh Nahyan told the congregation he hoped the place of worship would help serve the needs of the Armenian community in the capital and the wider UAE.
“This building underscores that the UAE, under the leadership of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, has always been and continues to be a country whose people embrace Islam, the religion that preaches tolerance and respect for other faiths — values which constitute the basic pillars of our country and created the fertile ground where all people live in coexistence, peace and security,” Sheikh Nahyan said.
“The church is a spiritual symbol for the power of belonging and loyalty of the members of the Armenian community and for deepening social and religious interaction.”
Catholicos Aram I of the Holy See of Cilicia appreciated the efforts being made by Sheikh Khalifa for promoting tolerance between different religions and nationalities living in the UAE, according to Wam, the state news agency.
Hassan Youssef Saad, Lebanese ambassador to the UAE, and Gegham Gharibjanian, Armenian ambassador to the UAE, attended the opening, along with Armenian community leaders and hundreds of Armenian Christians.
