June 1, 2005 - 10:34 AMT
CATHOLICOS OF ALL ARMENIANS MET PATRIARCH OF MOSCOW AND ALL RUSSIA
Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II met in Moscow with Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexy II, Gazeta Wyborcza reports. During the meeting Gagegin II noted that a great number of sacred objects were destroyed in Armenia and Russia during the period of militant atheism. In his words, to date the population of the Armenian capital makes 900 thousand people and there are only 16 Churches functioning in Yerevan. At the same time His Holiness noted that 5 temples are being constructed in the capital city and three of them will be consecrated this year. The Catholicos also informed that the Yerevan authorities rendered a territory for the construction of the Russian Orthodox Church. The parties discussed the further cooperation between the Armenian Apostolic and Russian Orthodox Churches. To note, Garegin II arrived in Moscow on occasion of upcoming visit to the US, which is to start on Wednesday and last for a month. To note, the Armenian congregation in the US numbers about 1 million people.