Catholicos of All Armenians Met with the Patriarch of Moscow and All of Russia
12.10.2021
On October 12, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians; accompanied by a delegation, met with His Holiness Kirill I, Patriarch of Moscow and All of Russia, at the St. Daniel Monastery in Moscow (Russian Federation).
Welcoming the Pontiff of All Armenians and his delegation, the leader of the worldwide Russian Orthodox Church touched upon the centuries-old fraternal relations between the two Churches, and the warm friendship binding the two peoples and their countries.
In his turn, the Catholicos of All Armenians affirmed the strong, centuries-old friendship between Armenia and Russia, which has been consistently shown even in the greatest times of trial. “The centuries-old friendship of our peoples and churches has been expressed in moments of both joy and sorrow. We rejoiced in our joint achievements, and together we fought for the inviolability of our friendship and brotherhood. Our meetings with Your Holiness [Patriarch Kirill] are the best evidence of that. And we have always felt the support of the head of the Russian Orthodox Church,” stated His Holiness Karekin II.
Referring to the Nagorno-Karabakh war and the problems of overcoming the post-war consequences, the Armenian Pontiff expressed his gratitude to the Russian Orthodox Church and its Patriarch for their support of the Armenian Church and the people in that difficult period. His Holiness also stated, “These are difficult times for our nation and our country, as Your Holiness [Patriarch Kirill] knows well. However, we believe that by God’s grace—and by virtue of our faith and the support of friendly countries, first among who is the Russian Federation—we will overcome this ordeal”. During the conversation, the two church leaders discussed ongoing efforts to resolve the conflict peacefully.
In the conclusion of the meeting, Patriarch Kirill I honored awarded the Armenian Pontiff with the Russian Orthodox Church’s “Medal of Honor in the First Degree”; on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of His Holiness, as well as for his contribution to the development of friendly relations between the Armenian Apostolic Church and the Moscow Patriarchate. In this regard, His Holiness expressed his gratitude to Patriarch Kirill, stating, “We consider this gift as a sign of Your Holiness’ respect and love towards our people and our Church”.
Expressing hope that the Russian and Armenian churches will continue to foster their good relationship in the future, emphasized the importance of the Christian presence in the Caucasus; His Holiness Kirill I stated, “Your Church, and You personally, are a strong presence in that fragile region. For the good of the Russian Orthodox Church, we must do everything we can to make your ministry as successful as possible”. On October 13, the Armenian Patriarch will participate in the trilateral meeting of the Spiritual Leaders of the region, in Moscow.
