ARMENIAN PEOPLE SURVIVED TRAGEDIES OF THE 20TH CENTURY THANKS TO CHRISTIANITY, PATRIARCH KIRILL BELIEVES
Interfax
March 17 2010
Russia
Yerevan, March 17, Interfax – Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia
pointed out to the saving role Christianity played for Armenian people
during tragic events of the 20th century.
"If it was not faith, not Christianity, then nothing would have
remained from Armenian people," Patriarch Kirill said to parishioners
of the Russian Protection of the Mother of God Church in Yerevan.
Patriarch Kirill noted that memorial of Armenian genocide victims
which he had visited before coming to the Russian parish reminded
him of the tragic destiny of people in diaspora.
According to him, the destiny of Russian people in the past century
is much similar to the fate of Armenian nation. Russians also had to
face many tragedies and repressions.
"It’s hard to imagine what would happen to our country and our people,
if it was not Orthodox faith," Patriarch Kirill said.
He stressed that he refered to the "the whole historical Russia
including Ukraine, Byelorussia, Moldova and all countries where people
are inspired by God’s word and blessed by the Orthodox Church."