Sects continue "soul saving" in Etchmiadzin's backyard After today’s Divine Liturgy celebrated by Catholicos Garegin II at Etchmiadzin celebrating the start of the school year, the Supreme Patriarch of the Armenian Church stated that the number of evangelical religious sects operating in Armenia was decreasing. Catholicos Garegin II was responding to a Hetq reporter who asked why such sects were operating in the town of Etchmiadzin itself if, as the Catholicos claimed, the church was taking measures to strengthen the bonds between itself and Armenia’s youth, especially in terms of spiritual instruction. Catholicos Garegin II stated after the liturgy that he personally was monitoring how the history of the Armenian Apostolic Church was being taught in the country’s schools and that he was generally pleased with the results. Presently, there are 20 working Armenian Apostolic churches in the Armavir Marz, where Etchmiadzin is located. However, religious sects are on the rise here as well and are now operating in communities surrounding the Holy See. We are doing our best to see that our sons and daughters are kept far away from the religious sermons of those sects from overseas. We believe that our faithful flock will remain true to the teachings and virtues of their forefathers and the national church. According to our sources, the number of those who follow these sects has dwindled; even though they still can propagandize with funds received from overseas. Happily, though, their message is being less well received than in the past," noted Catholicos Garegin II.