KIRILL GIVES KAREKIN II PRIZE OF INTRL FUND OF UNITY OF ORTHODOX PEOPLES
Itar-Tass
Jan 21 2010
Russia
MOSCOW, January 21 (Itar-Tass) – Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All
Russia has given Catholicos Karekin II of All Armenians the prize
of the International Fund of Unity of Orthodox Peoples for his
contribution to strengthening unity between Orthodox believes and
building a Russian church in Armenia.
The patriarch named Karekin II as "a big friend of the Russian
Orthodox Church". "Over many centuries we are like brothers despite
the differences of our languages and doctrinal differences between
the Churches," His Holiness said.
He stressed that Russia and Armenia "lived as one state for a long
time. Today our peoples have maintained intensive cooperation and
communication".
"The Armenian diaspora lives in many countries. Several Russian
parishes work successfully in Armenia. The Armenian eparchy exists
in Russia," Kirill said.
He expressed hope that a mission of the Russian Orthodox Church
"will start working in Yerevan soon".
Karekin II thanked Patriarch Kirill for the high award. He noted
that this prize "is one more sign of friendly relations between the
brotherly peoples, Churches and states". "It is especially important
for me to receive this prize jointly with Russian President Dmitry
Medvedev," the Armenian Catholicos said.
President Medvedev met with the spiritual leader of all the Armenians
and the Russian patriarch. They met prior to the start of the ceremony,
in which the International Fund of Unity of Orthodox Christinian
Nations awarded its annual prizes for the strengthening of unity of
Eastern Orthodox Christians.
The Fund awarded the prizes for 2009 to President Medvedev and Garegin
II, among a number of other personalities.
During the meeting, the sides discussed a variety of aspects of
Russian-Armenian relations, including the spiritual sphere.
This prize has been also given to Serbian director Emir Kustunica
and the St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary located in the
suburbs of New York.