PATRIARCH OF MOSCOW AND ALL RUSSIA CONSECRATES FOUNDATION STONE OF RUSSIAN CHURCH IN YEREVAN

Noyan Tapan
March 19, 2010

YEREVAN, MARCH 19, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The Patriarch of
Moscow and All Russia Kirill I on March 18 consecrated the foundation
stone of a Russian Orthodox church, while the Catholicos of All
Armenians Karekin II offered his prayers.

The ceremony was attended by ambassadors accredited to Armenia, Ara
Abrahamian – a Russia-based benefactor of the church, and numerous
believers.

"Today we consecrated a new Orthodox church in Yerevan where the
representative mission of the Russian Orthodox Church in Armenia
will be located. It is a significant event, long-awaited by all
of us," Patriarch Kirill I stated in his speech. According to him,
in addition to being a new place to offer prayers, this church will
become another haven of the friendship and cooperation of the two
Churches and the two peoples.

Then the Catholicos of All Armenians delivered his speech of blessings.

Following the ceremony, Patriarch Kirill I and Catholicos Karekin
II went to Yerevan State University (YSU) where they met with the
management, teaching staff, and students of the university. During the
meeting, the title of YSU Honorary Doctor was conferred on Patriarch
Kirill I, after which the presentation of the Armenian translations
of his books "The Word of the Pastor" and "Freedom and Responsibility"
took place.

Those present had the opportunity to hear Patriarch Kirill’s ideas
about Christian values and their role nowadays, as well as about
various social problems.