MOSCOW PATRIARCHATE EXPLAINS ATTRIBUTING ORTHODOX CHURCH IN KARABAKH TO ARMENIA
news.az
Jan 13 2010
Azerbaijan
Philip Ryabikh "We already avoid evaluation of existed realities",
spokesman for the Russian Patriarchy Philip Ryabikh.
"Russian Orthodox Church doesn’t value political borders between
different countries, we take today’s realities into consideration",
Spokesman for the Russian Patriarchy Philip Ryabikh told commenting
on his statement at a press conference in Moscow on Wednesday about
belonging the Nagorno Karabakh Orthodox Church to Armenia.
"We create our laities to support our Russian-speaking compatriots
spiritually. Our efforts are only for care and spiritual support
to the people. The Nagorno Karabakh laity was established through
the Armenian Apostolic Church and therefore it was mentioned on the
eve of Patriarch’s upcoming visit to Armenia where he will discuss
relations with the Armenian Church".
Philip Ryabikh said that church in Nagorno Karabakh was registered
last year, but had no building yet. He said he didn’t know exact
number of Orthodox Christians in Nagorno Karabakh.
"May be there is a little number, but we have to support them
spiritually. There is a question not abut the political position
of any Russian church. We have simple duty that is carried out. We
support peaceful solution to Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict and we
are assisting that. There were series of meetings between the Moscow
Patriarch, All Caucasian Sheikh and Armenian Catholicos. We already
avoid evaluation of existed realities.
Philip Ryabikh, who spoke about the upcoming visit of the Russian
Patriarch Cyril to Armenian in March at a press conference in Moscow
on Wednesday, said Moscow Patriarch had three churches in Armenia –
in Yerevan, Gumru, the Russian military base and in Nagorno Karabakh".