May 28, 2001
Source: Newsday
On May 28, 2001, Newsday reported that "Armenians from throughout the Northeast and beyond converged on Central Park [in New York City] to welcome His Holiness Karekin II, leader of the Armenian Church, on his first pontifical visit to the United States." The role of Karekin II "is analogous to that of the Roman Catholic pope...The Armenian Church is an independent Christian church... The service -conducted in K'rapar, a medieval dialect of Armenian - represented the highlight of a weekend-long celebration."