THE VISIT OF THE CATHOLICOS OF ALL ARMENIANS WILL PROMOTE THE NORMALIZATION OF THE MORAL-PSYCHOLOGICAL ATMOSPHERE IN RNK, THINKS RNK PRIME MINISTER

PanARMENIAN.Net - 28.09.2000, MEDIAMAX, YEREVAN. The meeting of the Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II with members of the Cabinet of Ministers took place in the Government of the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh on September 27.

As the correspondent of MEDIAMAX reports from Stepanakert, RNK prime minister Anushavan Danielian highly assessed the role of the Armenian Apostolic Church in the matter of strengthening the statehood and belief, as well as in peace preserving. He noted that the visit of the Patriarch to Nagorno Karabakh will assist the normalization of moral-psychological atmosphere in the republic, the activation of spiritual life and acceleration of the rate of church construction.

Touching upon the relations of the Church and the state, A. Danielian spoke for the necessity to enlarge the cooperation with the church. He said that the interaction of Artsakh diocese and the government show that at present the state and the church are united more than ever. There is much work to be done, dozens of churches need to be restored and re-opened, the premier said.

In his turn Garegin II said that he is very happy and proud of the spiritual awakening of the Armenian people in the person of Artsakh. He thanked RNK authorities for their attitude towards the Armenian Apostolic Church and expressed his satisfaction with the fact that religion is included in the school curriculum in all the classes.

RNK minister of education Hamlet Grigorian, minister of culture Armen Sarkisian and the Head of Artsakh diocese Archbishop Pargev Martirosian presented to the Catholicos the program of RNK celebration ceremonies of the 1700th anniversary of the adoption of Christianity as state religion in Armenia.

Garegin II and other clergymen visited today Gandzasar monastery, which dates back to 13th century. -0-