Metropolitan of Helsinki Visits the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin

April 2014
Eastern Orthodox – Oriental Orthodox Churches
Armenian Orthodox Church – Orthodox Church of Finland

On April 27, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, welcomed Metropolitan Ambrosios, Bishop of the Diocese of Helsinki and Holy Synod member of the Orthodox Church of Finland; who is visiting Armenia at the invitation of His Holiness. Accompanying him were Mr. Antti Heikinheimo, Attorney; and Mr. Timo Kiteveyne, Deputy Head of the Union of the Finnish Municipality.

Welcoming the guests’ visit to the Mother See, His Holiness extended his appreciation and blessings to them, highlighting the importance of the meeting in further reinforcing the inter-church relations and partnership between the Armenian Apostolic and the Finnish Orthodox Churches.

During the meeting, the Catholicos of All Armenians reflected on the warm relations of the Armenian Church with the Orthodox and Sister Churches. His Holiness also presented the achievements in ecumenism and discussed the challenges that overwhelm and disturb the atmosphere of love in the church life, advising to overcome all obstacles and endure all trials and tribulations with united prayers.

Metropolitan Ambrosios noted that this meeting was of great significance for the Armenian and Finnish Churches in terms of theological dialogue and that it would further contribute in making the inter-church relations between the two churches closer and warmer.

The Catholicos of All Armenians and the Metropolitan of Helsinki fondly recalled their years of study at the Spiritual Academy in Zagorsk.

Present at the meeting was also His Grace Bishop Hovakim Manoukyan, Director of the Inter-Church Relations Department of the Mother See, Primate of the Artik Diocese.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Metropolitan Ambrosios and his delegation attended the Divine Liturgy in the Mother Cathedral.

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