Armenian Apostolic Holy Church The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin

On February 10, in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians; received the temporary governor of the Diocese of Yerevan and Armenia of the Russian Orthodox Church, Archbishop Aksiy of Podolsk and Lyubertsk.

The Catholicos of All Armenians conveyed his congratulations and best wishes to Archbishop Aksiy on his appointment, wishing him an effective mission to strengthen the spiritual life of the Russian community in Armenia and further strengthen the fraternal relations between the two Churches.

At the meeting, the Armenian Patriarch conveyed his greetings and congratulations to Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia on the occasion of the 15th anniversary of his enthronement, wishing him many years of peaceful and effective pontificate.

The Armenian Patriarch spoke with satisfaction about the friendship of the Armenian and Russian peoples, at the roots of which the two Churches also stand. His Holiness recorded with confidence that faith is the solid foundation by which nations will overcome the challenges they face with dignity, restoring the longed-for peace in their lives.

His Holiness Karekin II referred to the prayer support shown by the Patriarch of the Russian Church during this difficult period for the Armenian people and his efforts towards the peaceful settlement of the Artsakh problem, as well as the undisturbed preservation of the Armenian spiritual and cultural heritage of Artsakh. The Armenian Patriarch regretfully noted that today, when Artsakh is depopulated, Azerbaijan continues to encroach on Armenian shrines, and cases of destruction of shrines have also been documented.

The Catholicos of All Armenians wished that the Heavenly Lord would strengthen the nations going through the trials of wars.

Archbishop Aksiy, expressing gratitude for the warm welcome, conveyed to His Holiness the fraternal greetings and prayers of Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia. The temporary governor of the Diocese of Yerevan and Armenia assured the Armenian Patriarch that he will make every effort to organize the spiritual care of the Russian community and bring closer the relations between the two nations and the Churches.

At the conclusion, His Holiness once again conveyed his best wishes to the newly appointed temporary governor of the diocese, praying that God will be his companion and supporter in his mission.

The meeting was attended by His Eminence Archbishop Nathan Hovhannisyan, Director of the External Relations and Protocol Department of the Mother See, His Eminence Archbishop Yezras Nersisyan, Primate of the Armenian Diocese of Russia and New Nakhichevan and Proto-Archimandrite Shahe Ananyan, Director of the Dean of the Gevorkian Theological Seminary and Director of the Inter-Church Relations Department of the Mother See.