Home page News
Trilateral meeting of religious leaders of Ru…

Trilateral meeting of religious leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia takes place in Moscow

On 8 September 2017, a meeting between Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, Sheikh ul-Islam Allahshükür Pashazade, chairman of the Caucasian Muslims Board, and Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, took place at the Patriarchal and Synodal Residence in St. Daniel’s Monastery in Moscow. The religious leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia arrived in Russia’s capital at the invitation of the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church to discuss ways of settling the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Addressing the participants in the meeting, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill said in particular, “We have some inner potential that helps us – I believe it is true – overcome the disagreements that would be difficult to overcome in another audience <…> The very fact of this meeting is an important sign for our nations that our religions have a peace-making potential. Religion can and, I am sure, will play a unifying and reconciling role in the life of peoples.”

The role of religious leaders is to exhort and guide people, the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, Karekin II, emphasized. “There is no alternative to peace in our region and to the settlement of the Karabakh conflict through negotiations,” he said.

The chairman of the Caucasian Muslims Board, Sheikh ul-Islam Allahshükür Pashazade, noted the benefits of the trilateral meetings of religious leaders and the importance of easing the situation. The leader of the Azerbaijani Muslims called upon all the parties to do together “something good, something of significance,” so that the confrontation would not begin again after they return home; “something that would bring about peace and accord.”

The spiritual leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia thanked His Holiness Patriarch Kirill for the organization of the meeting.

The participants in the meeting discussed opportunities of exerting moral influence with regard to the conflict in the Nagorno-Karabakh, as well as ways to seek its peaceful settlement, and practical measures to ensure this.

As the result of the meeting, a joint statement was signed, which emphasizes the necessity of the dialogue and international peace-making efforts, and points out to the essential role of moral values in settling the conflict and putting an end to bloodshed, as well as presents a number of proposals aimed at easing the lot of people who have found themselves in the conflict zone.”

Answering questions from journalists after the meeting, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill said, “I appreciate the atmosphere that has prevailed today during the negotiations, and the results of the work. In a warm, open atmosphere the parties have honestly exchanged their opinions, without any hint of a hostile rhetoric. It is a sign that the religious leaders, feeling their full responsibility before God for the future of their peoples and their countries, discussed the problem that is, indeed, very complicated.”

Speaking on behalf of all the participants in the meeting, the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church said in particular, “The signed document notes the necessity to change the atmosphere, the climate over this problem. It is important, first of all, with regard to the education of young people. Azerbaijan and Armenia will always be neighbours. There is no other reality but the reality of these two peoples living side by side. God willed them to live close to each other. And it is based on this fact that the relations between these two countries and peoples should be built up and the attempts to resolve this very complicated problem over the Nagorno-Karabakh should be made.”

“I would like to say once again that religious leaders have a potential for peace-making activities, peace-making ministry in very difficult situations. And today’s meeting shows it,” Patriarch Kirill added in conclusion.

DECR Communication Service

Photo by Patriarchal Press Service

Share:
Telephone conversation held between His Holiness Patriarch Kirill and the Primate of the Malankara Church of India

01.11.2024

Address by His Holiness Patriarch Kirill at the VIII World Congress of Compatriots Living Abroad

30.10.2024

Order of Right-Believing Prince Daniel of Moscow presented to Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk by Patriarch Kirill

24.10.2024

Primate of the Russian Church celebrates Divine Liturgy in the Holy Trinity and St. Sergius Lavra on the commemoration day of St. Sergius of Radonezh

09.10.2024

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill celebrates Little Vespers and Akathistos hymn to St. Sergius in the Lavra of the Holy Trinity and St. Sergius

07.10.2024

Message from the Primate of the Russian Church to His Holiness Patriarch Porfirije of Serbia in connection with blasphemous act on the ruins of ancient Ulpiana

14.09.2024

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill celebrates on the feast of the 300th anniversary of the transfer of relics of St.Alexander Nevsky to St. Petersburg

12.09.2024

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill celebrates All-night Vigil at the Christ the Savior Cathedral on the eve of Transfiguration

18.08.2024

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus' met with the Ambassador of India to Russia

30.07.2024

Catholicos-Patriarch Mar Awa III: Ukrainian government’s support for schism and persecution of the major canonical Church is a religious pogrom against the faithful Orthodox Christians of that country

24.07.2024

Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church consecrates the Holy Transfiguration Cathedral in the city of Tver.

21.07.2024

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill celebrates Liturgy at the Lavra of the Holy Trinity and St. Sergius on the commemoration day of the saint

18.07.2024

The Primate of the Russian Church celebrates All-night Vigil at the Lavra of the Holy Trinity and St. Sergius

17.07.2024

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill celebrates Little Vespers at the Lavra of the Holy Trinity and St. Sergius and reads akathist to the saint

17.07.2024

Patriarchal condolences on the death of Boris A. Nelyubov

14.07.2024

Telephone conversation held between His Holiness Patriarch Kirill and the Primate of the Malankara Church of India

01.11.2024

DECR Chairman has begun his visit to India

31.10.2024

Work of the Commission for Dialogue between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church is declared successful

24.10.2024

Synod acknowledges importance of bilateral projects carried out in collaboration with Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church

24.10.2024

Order of Right-Believing Prince Daniel of Moscow presented to Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk by Patriarch Kirill

24.10.2024

DECR Chairman heads celebrations for the fifteenth anniversary of the consecration of the Dormition Church at the Russian embassy in Beijing.

19.10.2024

Saint Petersburg Theological Academy hosts conference on the occasion of the 95th anniversary of metropolitan Nikodim (Rotov) entitled ‘The Person of Metropolitan Nikodim in the History of the Church’.

16.10.2024

DECR Chairman meets with President of the Italian Bishops’ Conference

15.10.2024

Participants of the Divine Service at the Church of the Nativity of John the Baptist in Presnya congratulated the DECR Chairman on his 40th birthday.

12.10.2024

Russian diplomat given Patriarchal award.

10.10.2024

DECR Chairman delivered a lecture to students of the Russian Orthodox University

09.10.2024

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill celebrates Little Vespers and Akathistos hymn to St. Sergius in the Lavra of the Holy Trinity and St. Sergius

07.10.2024

DECR Chairman takes part in festivities for the beginning of the academic year at the Saints Cyril and Methodius Postgraduate Institute.

03.10.2024

DECR chairman attends reception given by Spiritual Administration of Muslims of the Russian Federation

22.09.2024

Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk meets with delegation of Orthodox Church in America

16.09.2024

Metropolitan Hilarion: Many things in a person's life depend on faith

29.08.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: The Holy Spirit is the main treasure of the Christian soul

01.08.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: Holiness is a constant striving to imitate the Lord Jesus Christ

27.06.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: God does not want to condemn, but to save us

07.03.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: The Lord always grants to us the opportunity to display our talents

24.01.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: The Lord has imbued the waters of Jordan with his divine presence to wash away human sins

19.01.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: to repent means to change your way of life

17.01.2021

On commemoration day of St. Catherine, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk officiated at the Church of St. Catherine the Great Martyr In-the-Fields  the representation of the Orthodox Church in America

07.12.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion: We can always show compassion for people

29.11.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion celebrates on commemoration day of St. Varlaam of Khutyn at the church of ‘Joy to All the Afflicted’ icon of the Mother of God

19.11.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion: We should remember that the life of each human being is in the hands of God

06.11.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion: For God there is nothing impossible

25.10.2020

Metropoplitan Hilarion: The cross which was an instrument of dishonourable execution becomes the symbol of salvation for millions of people

27.09.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion: Eucharist is the wedding feast, to which Lord Jesus Christ invites each of us

13.09.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion: Faith alone is not enough for salvation

30.08.2020

Page is available in the following languages
Feedback

Fields marked by * are mandatory required

Send a message
Рус Укр Eng Deu Ελλ Fra Ita Бълг ქარ Срп Rom عرب