His Holiness Aram I receives the new Spiritual Leader of the Latin Church in Lebanon

On Friday 24 March 2017 in the morning, His Holiness Aram I received Bishop Caesar Yessayan, who is of Armenian origin. Having served in Lebanon, Syria, Turkey and Italy, the bishop is familiar with Armenian history as well as the history of the relationship of the two churches.   Catholicos Aram I welcomed the Prelate…

His Holiness Aram I receives Lebanese Artists who will exhibit their work on the Armenian Genocide

On Friday evening, 24 March 2017, His Holiness Aram I received a group of Lebanese artists who will be exhibiting their work on the Armenian Genocide on 24 April in Byblos. The exhibition, which is being organized by the Tekeyan Cultural Association in Lebanon, tells the story of the Genocide through Art.   Following introductions…

His Holiness Aram I Presides over the Mid Lent Service at the St Nishan Church of the Diocese of Lebanon

  According to the established tradition, and in response to the invitation of the Prelate and members of the Church Council of the Diocese of Lebanon, His Holiness Aram I presided over the Mid Lent Service at the St Nishan Church in Beirut. The Seminarians who accompanied the Catholicos chanted the Service.   At the…

His Holiness Aram I receives The Prelate of Kuwait and the Neighbouring Countries, and Representatives of the Church Councils

2 March 2017. On Thursday morning, Very Rev Masis Zoboyan, the Prelate, and representatives of the Church Councils of Kuwait and its neighbouring countries held a working meeting with Catholicos Aram I. The main agenda was the renovation of the Church and School. They informed His Holiness that the work was progressing as scheduled and…

His Holiness Aram I receives writer and film director Vatche Boulghourdjian

      25 February 2017. On Saturday writer and director Vatche Boulghourdjian and his sister Sarti met with His Holiness Aram I in his office in Antelias.   Vatche Boulghourdjian, who received an MFA from New York University’s Graduate Film Program, has had his critically acclaimed films exhibited in festivals around the world. He…

His Excellency, Michael Minassian, Ambassador of Armenia to the Vatican, visits Antelias

The Ambassador, accompanied by Vartan Garabedian, First Advisor of the Armenian Embassy in Lebanon, visited Antelias. The guests toured the offices and met the staff in Antelias, and then went to St Mary’s Monastery in Bikfaya, where they were briefed on the mission of the Catholicosate and the Seminary. During the two-day stay they also…

His Holiness Aram I receives Professor Emeritus Richard Hovanissian of University of California Los Angeles (UCLA)  

  25 February 2017. On Saturday Morning, Richard Hovanissian, Armenian Educational Foundation Professor of Modern Armenian History at UCLA, met with Catholicos Aram I in his office. Professor Hovanissian was accompanied by members of the Lebanon Committee of ‘Tekeyan Cultural Association.’ Discussions focussed primarily on the status of the lawsuit that the Catholicosate of Cilicia…

His Holiness Aram I receives the children of Sunday Schools on ‘Poun Pareguentan’ (Shrovetide)

26 February 2017. On Sunday morning, following the Holy Liturgy at St Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral, the Monastery Sunday School students, accompanied by their teachers and parents, met with His Holiness Aram I. To mark the day in the traditional way, they wore masks.   After greeting the children, teachers and parents, Catholicos Aram I…

Church Services during the forty days of Lent at the Catholicosate of Cilicia in Antelias

Armenian Church Fathers have described the Great Lent as the “Powerful Gate,” constructed through self-introspection and abstinence, in anticipation of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. For the Fathers, the Great Lent is an invitation to engage in spiritual quest. According to Gregory of Datev, “the spirit is cleansed by tears serving as hot water and…