Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church visit Yerevan State University
On 18 March 2010, the third day of the official visit to Armenia of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, he visited the Yerevan State University and met with the faculty and students.
Sitting at the presidium were the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II; chairman of the Department for external church relations of the Armenian Apostolic Church Archbishop Eznik Petrosian; and rector of the University Aram Simonian.
Present at the meeting were hierarchs of the Armenian Apostolic Church, members of the official delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church, including Metropolitan Hilarion, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate Department for external church relations; abbot of the Laura of the Holy Trinity and St. Sergius Archbishop Feognost of Sergiev Posad; head of the Moscow Patriarchate administrative secretariat Bishop Sergiy of Solnechnogorsk; chairman of the Synodal Information department V. Legoida; DECR deputy chairman hegumen Philipp (Ryabykh), and Russian Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Armenia V. Kovalenko.
Rector Aram Simonian welcomed His Holiness Patriarch Kirill and said that on 11 March 2010 the Academic Board of the Yerevan State University conferred the title of doctor honoris causa on His Holiness Patriarch Kirill. A. Simonian presented His Holiness with the diploma and gold medal of the University.
The Chairman of the Department for external church relations of the Armenian Apostolic Church Archbishop Eznik Petrosian presented the audience Patriarch Kirill’s books ‘A Pastor’s Word’ and ‘Freedom and Responsibility’ in the Armenian language.
His Holiness Patriarch Kirill delivered a speech on the role of the Church in the modern world and invited Catholicos Karekin II on his own behalf and on behalf of the head of the Spiritual Board of Muslims of the Caucasus Sheikh ul-Islam Allahshukur Pasha-zade to take part in the Summit of religious leaders due to take place in Baku on 26-27 April 2010.
The Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church answered question of the faculty and students and made a gift of the deluxe edition of the book about sixteen Patriarchs of Moscow and All Russia to the University library.
In conclusion of the meeting, the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II addressed a short speech to His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, press service of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia reports.