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In his message to the Holy Synod of the Armenian Catholic Church, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s department for external church relations (DECR), expressed condolences over the death of His Beatitude Catholicos-Patriarch Nerses Bedros XIX. Below is the text of the message.

To the Holy Synod of the Armenian Catholic Church

Dear Brothers in Christ:

Please accept our profound condolences over the demise of the head of the Armenian Catholic Church, His Beatitude Catholic-Patriarch Nerses Bedros XIX.

His Beatitude was known as one of the bright Christian leaders of the Middle East who had done a lot for preaching the Gospel and for the affirmation of Christian values in society, consolidation of peace and good-neighborly relations among nations.

His Beatitude Nerses had attached much significance to the development of contacts among Christians and, being a friend of the Russian Orthodox Church, had visited its canonical territory on several occasions.

His demise had fallen to the period of commemorating the centenary of the tragic events of genocide of Christian population of Asia Minor which are being repeated in several countries of the Middle East on a similar scale. His Beatitude Patriarch Nerses had deeply empathized with the suffering of people and called for the restoration of peace and accord in society.

May the Lord rest the soul of His newly departed servant.

With love in Christ,

+ Hilarion

Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk

Chairman

Department for External Church Relations

Moscow Patriarchate