ETCHMIADZIN (Noyan Tapan)–Catholicos of All Armenia’s Karekin II completed his first official visit to Russia and returned to Etchmiadzin March 3.
At the airport the Catholicos was met by Acting Chairman of the State Council for Religious Affairs Levon Mkrtchian–Russian Ambassador to Armenia Anatoly Dryukov and members of the congregation of the Holy See of Etchmiadzin. "I am impressed by the revival of the Russian church and by warm church-state relations in Russia–which is reflected on people’s spiritual life" the Catholicos said.
During their meeting–Patriarch of Moscow and Russia Alexy II and Catholicos of All Armenia’s Karekin II stated their intention to strengthen the centuries-old friendship between the two churches. The Armenian Catholicos invited Alexy II to visit Etchmiadzin. In his turn–Alexy II invited Karekin II to pay another visit to Moscow and participate in the sanctification of the Holy Savior Temple.
The Catholicos expressed satisfaction with his meeting with Russia’s Acting President Vladimir Putin who stated that Russia will always support Armenia.
In the Holy See of Etchmiadzin His Holiness presented the agreemen’s reached with Alexy II on re-establishing the old traditions of the two churches and organizing theological meetings.