PATRIOTIC AND PEACE INITIATIVES AS A FACTOR OF STRENGTHENING ARMENIAN-RUSSIAN CHURCH RELATIONS IN MID-XX CENTURY

The study aims to elucidate the role of the patriotic and peace-making initiatives of the Armenian and Russian Orthodox churches in the Great Patriotic war. It is revealed that in the years of the Great Patriotic war, the two churches united in the struggle of the people against the fascist aggression. In the appeals to the society of financial assistance to the front (raising funds for armored columns) there is clearly shownthepatriotic side ofthe both churchesactivities. The patriotic and peace initiatives taken by the Armenian Apostolic and Russian Orthodox churches in that period influenced the process of strengthening the Armenian-Russian confessional relations in the second half of the XXth - early XXIst centuries, which resulted in the holding of inter-Church dialogues, joint cultural, social and educational projects, including the protection of peace on Earth.

Great Patriotic war, peacemaking