Pope Francis accompanied by top clerics on Friday, June 24 arrived in Etchmiadzin, the main religious center of the Armenian people.

Children carrying the flags of the Vatican and Armenia met the pontiff at the Etschmiadzin Cathedral.

The pope was greeted with the Hrashapar (wondrously glorious) service, which is traditionally offered as a service of welcome to top religious clerics.

Both the pope and the Catholicos of All Armenians, His Holiness Karekin II delivered remarks.

Francis is then scheduled to meet with President Serzh Sargsyan in Yerevan.

The pontiff's plane landed at the Zvartnots International Airport at 3:00pm local time.

The pope caps his first day with a visit to the seat of the Armenian Apostolic Church, where he will stay as a guest of the patriarch.