On March 18, 2025, a delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church visiting Armenia attended a reception at the residence of Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II in Etchmiadzin.
With the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, the head of the delegation, Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, presented the Primate of the Armenian Apostolic Church with the Patriarchal Award — the Order of St. Alexy, Metropolitan of Kiev, Moscow and All Russia (I degree) in connection with the 25th anniversary of his Primatial ministry.
The DECR Chairman read out the greeting of His Holiness Kirill, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, in which, in particular, the merits of Catholicos Garegin II were noted, "who diligently continues the work of St. Gregory the Illuminator and other glorious predecessors, who cares about preserving the Christian identity of the Armenian people and inspires believers by his personal example to lead a life of every piety and purity" (1 Tim. 2.2).
The message of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill also noted the significant personal contribution of the Primate of the Armenian Church to the revival of spiritual life in Armenia after godless persecution, which resulted in "the opening of new churches and the resumption of a full-blooded parish life." Russian Russian Patriarch Kirill also highly appreciated Catholicos Garegin's "unfailingly kind attitude towards the Russian Orthodox Church and the Russian spiritual tradition."
In response, the Primate of the Armenian Apostolic Church expressed his heartfelt gratitude to His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, noting that he was "deeply touched by the attention and warm attitude of His Holiness, which is an expression of the centuries-old cooperation and close ties between our Holy Churches, our long-term fraternal fellowship, as well as reflecting the important contribution of the Armenian community to state, public and cultural life." Of the Russian Federation".
The Catholicos thanked the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church "for the support and prayers rendered to the Armenian people during the tragic war [in Nagorno-Karabakh]," expressed gratitude "for the efforts made by Patriarch Kirill to ensure the uninterrupted functioning of the Dadivank monastery and the safety of our clergy," and also expressed his support for the Moscow Patriarchate in connection with the situation in Ukraine. 
Catholicos Garegin also said that "despite the trials and difficulties that have befallen our peoples, he praises God that, thanks to the established cooperation in various fields, relations between the Armenian Apostolic and Russian Orthodox Churches continue to rise, bearing new fruits."
In conclusion, the Primate of the Armenian Apostolic Church noted the "close paternal attention" of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill to the "Armenian community of Russia, their spiritual and national life" and offered prayers "for the long years of good health and fruitful Archpastoral care of our spiritual brother, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, for the well-being and prosperity of the Russian Orthodox Church."
On the evening of the same day, Catholicos Karekin II gave a gala dinner in honor of the delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church.