Armenia's President attends consecration of Armenian church in Moscow

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 17, ARMENPRESS. The President of the Republic of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan and First Lady Rita Sargsyan attended the consecration of the Armenian church of Holy Transfiguration in Moscow and the opening ceremony of the Church Complex on September 17. The Media and Public Relations Department of the President's Office informed "Armenpress" thatHis Holiness Karekin II, the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, presided over the solemn ceremony of consecration. Patriarch of Moscow and all Rus' Cyril participated in the ceremony and bestowed his blessings upon the attendants. A number of Russian statesmen and public figures, as well as the Primates of the largest Dioceses of the Armenian Apostolic Church, religious leaders of various denominations of the Russian Federation, and benefactors attended the aforesaid ceremony.

The Cathedral will serve as the residence of His Grace Bishop Yezras Nersisyan, Primate of the New Nakhichevan and Russian Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

The National Philharmonic Orchestra of Russia led by Vladimir Spivakov will participate in the festive concert following the consecration ceremony on September 17.

The construction works launched yet in 2008. The Cathedral of the complex will become the biggest structure of the Armenian Apostolic Church outside Armenia. The Cultural Cathedral Complex of the Russian and New Nakhijevan Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church has been built due to the donations of Russia-based Armenian and Russian sponsors.

The complex of a total area of 25,000 square meters includes the Cathedral for 1,000 worshippers, a chapel, and the residence of the diocesan primate, an educational center, and a museum-treasury.