ETCHMIADZIN. – The Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II on Friday received Yury Artyukh, Head of the Moscow Government Department for Interregional Cooperation, Social Inclusion and Relations with Religious Organisations. 

The Catholicos stressed that relations between Armenia and Russia are warm on the state and spiritual level alike, Information System of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin informs.  

The interlocutors reflected on the ties between the Armenian Apostolic and the Russian Orthodox churches as well as on the lives of the Russian-Armenian community and the New Nakhichevan and Russia Diocese of the Armenian Church. In this connection, Karekin II expressed his appreciation to Artyukh for the support provided to Moscow’s Armenian community and the Armenian diocese.   

In his turn, Yury Artyukh conveyed to the Catholicos the salutations and best wishes by Sergey Sobyanin, the Mayor of Moscow, and stressed the importance of the Armenian church complex and diocesan headquarters cathedral being constructed in Moscow.