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.
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.