Patriarch of the Armenian Apostolic Church and Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II today received in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin the Secretary General of the Ahl al-Bayt World Assembly, Ayatollah Mohammad Hasan Akhtari, who arrived in Armenia upon the Catholicos’ invitation, Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin press-service reports.

The Catholicos welcomed Ayatollah Mohammad’s visit to Armenia and Holy Etchmiadzin, noting that such visits not only contribute to bilateral mutual understanding and strengthening of the inter-religious dialogue, but also positively influence the sons of two pious people so that they live a peaceful and creative life.

Stressing the necessity of the inter-religious dialogues, Karekin II noted that the spiritual leaders, like politicians, can also have an important role in preventing the crimes and terror acts in different parts of the world, as well as in overcoming their consequences, especially when the terrorism is currently concealed by the religious factor.

With this regard, the Catholicos condemned the terror act in France and expressed concern over the difficult situation in the Middle East.

Karekin II also referred to the historical ties between the two people and the development of current Armenian-Iranian relations. He appreciated the attention of the Iranian government towards the Armenian community and its spiritual and education institutions.

Ayatollah Mohammad Hasan Akhtari also attached importance to the inter-religious dialogue, stressing that the cooperation between the religious leaders will serve as a nice example for the peoples of the world and will lead them to the solemn and cherished values preached by all religions.

He also referred to the manifestations of extremism. According to Ayatollah Mohammad, no religion urges to kill the God’s creations and the responsibility of the clergymen is to strictly condemn all those phenomena which abuse people’s religious beliefs.