Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill arrives in Armenia for a three-day visitMarch 16, 2010 - 15:43 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill was met at the Zvartnots airport by the Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II, 12 bishops of the Armenian Apostolic Church (AAC), the minister of education and science of Armenia Armen Ashotyan, ambassadors of Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Lithuania in Armenia. From the airport the Patriarch Kirill went to the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Headquarters of the Armenian Church, press office of Echmiadzin reported, where a welcoming ceremony is held. During the ceremony one of the most significant shrines of the Armenian Apostolic Church –The Right Hand of St. Gregory the Illuminator will be introduced to the Cathedral of Holy Echmiadzin. Then the Patriarch will lay a wreath at the monument to Russian soldiers killed in the battle for Echmiadzin near Oshakan during the Russian-Persian war of 1826-1828. In the evening of the delegation will attend a concert at the Echmiadzin House of Youth. Memorandum of cooperation between the cities of Sergiev Posad and Echmiadzin will be signed in the Throne Room of the residence of the Catholicos of the Armenian Apostolic Church. Top stories David Vardanyan is the son of former Karabakh leader Ruben Vardanyan who who is currently imprisoned in Azerbaijan. The number of state universities will be reduced from 23 to 8 by 2030, Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Zhanna Andreasyan has said. From September 21 to November 11, a total of 2,820 Russians registered at a place of residence in Armenia, the police has said. The situation on the contact line between Karabakh and Azerbaijan was relatively stable overnight, the Defense Army says. Partner news | Lemkin Institue slams Pashinyan's “cryptic engagement with Genocide denial” The Lemkin Institute is alarmed over Pashinyan’s statements “questioning Armenia's legal basis to pursue justice against Turkey”. Armenia votes for UN resolution granting Palestine new rights The U.N. General Assembly voted by a wide margin on May 10 to grant new “rights and privileges” to Palestine. EU still discussing funding Armenia through European Peace Facility Discussions continue in the EU on providing Armenia with funds from the European Peace Facility, Vassilis Maragos says. Greek-Armenian organizations support "Tavush for Motherland" Greek-Armenian organizations have expressed support for the campaign led by Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan. |