His Holiness Karekin II Receives Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov
31.01.2003
On January 31, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians received Mr. Yuri Luzhkov, Mayor of Moscow, and his delegation from the Russian Federation. Mr. Luzhkov was accompanied by the Mayor of Yerevan, Mr. Robert Nazarian, and the Russian Ambassador to the Republic of Armenia, Mr. Anatoly Drukov.
During their meeting, the Armenian Pontiff and the Mayor happily affirmed the development and progress of the centuries-old Armenian-Russian relations during the past ten years. Further, His Holiness expressed his gratitude to Mayor Luzhkov for his caring approach towards the Armenian community of Moscow.
Mr. Luzhkov stated his appreciation for the audience, and praised the Moscow Armenian community and the benefits they bring to Russian society. He also noted that the municipal authorities, with the assistance of Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, His Holiness Alexy II, are attempting to establish close ties and good relations with all communities and religious confessions.
At the conclusion of their meeting, the Catholicos of All Armenians decorated Mayor Luzhkov with the Jubilee Medal commissioned on the occasion of the 1,700th Anniversary of Christianity as the Official Religion of Armenia.
Present for the meeting were His Grace Bishop Navasard Ktchoyan, Vicar of the Araratian Pontifical Diocese; His Grace Bishop Yezras Nersissian, Primate of the Diocese of Russia and New Nakhijevan; His Grace Bishop Sion Adamian, Primate of the Diocese of Armavir; and Reverend Fathers of the Brotherhood of Holy Etchmiadzin.
