Accessibility links

Breaking News

New Armenian Cathedral Opens In Moscow


Russian Patriarch Kirill (left) and Catholicos of All Armenian Garegin II (center) attend the ceremony of consecrating the Armenian Apostolic Church Cathedral in Moscow, September 17, 2013
Russian Patriarch Kirill (left) and Catholicos of All Armenian Garegin II (center) attend the ceremony of consecrating the Armenian Apostolic Church Cathedral in Moscow, September 17, 2013
MOSCOW -- A new cathedral of the Armenian Apostolic Church has opened in Moscow.

Armenia's Catholicos Garegin II presided over the consecration ceremony on September 17.

Guests at the ceremony included Armenia's President Serzh Sarkisian and Patriarch Kirill of the Russian Orthodox Church, as well as representatives of other religions.

The cathedral is the largest outside Armenia and can hold up to 1,000 worshippers.

Its construction began eight years ago and was funded by Russia-based Armenian and Russian sponsors.

It is only the fourth functioning Armenian Apostolic church in the Russian capital and is intended to serve Moscow's sizeable Armenian community.

Besides the cathedral, the church complex includes also a chapel, an educational complex, a residential building for the head of the Armenian Apostolic Church, a museum and an exhibition hall.

With reporting by "The Moscow Times" and ITAR-TASS

RFE/RL has been declared an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government.

If you are in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine and hold a Russian passport or are a stateless person residing permanently in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine, please note that you could face fines or imprisonment for sharing, liking, commenting on, or saving our content, or for contacting us.

To find out more, click here.

XS
SM
MD
LG