The head of the Russian Orthodox Church...

The patriarch said Christian roots are "the firmest basis for good relations" between Armenia and Russia and thanked Garegin II for promoting good relations with the Russian people. He also thanked Armenia for its respectful attitude toward the Russian language.

More than 90% of Armenians belong to the Armenian Apostolic Church, which is in dialogue but not in communion with most Eastern Orthodox Churches, including Russian, due to certain dogmatic differences.

YEREVAN, March 17 (RIA Novosti)