YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)–Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Alexey II–during a ceremony at Moscow’s Unknown Soldier memorial Tuesday–wished for the recovery of Catholicos of All Armenia’s Karekin I.
"We share the pain of the Armenian people," said the Russian Patriarch. "This is a hard time in Armenia–when the spiritual leader of the people is in a serious condition. We have always maintained friendly relations with Catholicos Karekin I–just as we did with Vazken I," Alexey II added.
Also on Tuesday–the Armenian Patriarchate in Istanbul issued a press release inviting the Armenian community to unite at the St. Mary’s church to pray for the well-being of the Catholicos.
The press release also denied that Patriarch Archbishop Mesrob Moutafyan has already left for Armenia to visit Karekin I in Etchmiadzin.