October 6, 2016

HIS HOLINESS CATHOLICOS ARAM I MEETS WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AT THE PRELACY

 

On Monday, 3 October, 2016, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I held meetings with community organizations and individuals at the Prelacy, among them the Armenian Bar Association and the Syrian Armenian Relief Fund.

 

The Board of Governors of the Armenian Bar Association congratulated His Holiness on the 20th Anniversary of his consecration as Catholicos and expressed their collective gratitude for the selfless service of His Holiness over the past two decades as the spiritual leader of the Armenian Nation. A productive discussion focused on the lawsuit filed by the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia against the Republic of Turkey for the return of the ancient church headquarters in Sis. The Board expressed the willingness and dedication of the ABA to contribute to all legal efforts to advance the goals of the case at all levels and their readiness to stand alongside the Holy See as it relates to the pursuit of the Armenian Cause and defense of human rights. The guests also briefed His Holiness on the mission of the ABA, particularly the work of the Armenian Rights Watch Committee and Armenian Genocide Reparations Committee. At the conclusion of the meeting, the Board presented His Holiness with a personalized Terchnakir artwork lauding his legacy of service as a memento of his visit. His Holiness bestowed his blessings upon the Board members and presented them each with a blessed cross.

 

Syrian Armenian Relief Fund Governing Board members also congratulated His Holiness on his 20th anniversary. The discussion focused on the ongoing critical situation in Syria, in particular the upheaval in Aleppo in the past week which resulted in a number of Armenian casualties, and the continued efforts of the Catholicosate of Cilicia and organizations such as SARF to provide vital aid and resources to our besieged communities in Syria. His Holiness commended SARF for its diligent work and commitment to the welfare of Syrian-Armenian communities from its inception to the present day.

 

Earlier in the day, His Holiness also met with Kessab Educational Association Board members, who congratulated his enthronement anniversary and conveyed their gratitude for his care and concern during the turmoil in Kessab a couple of years back.

 

Western Prelacy Prelate Arch. Moushegh Mardirossian, Central Executive members Khajag Dikijian and Vahe Yacoubian, and Executive Council Chair Vahe Hovaguimian participated in the meetings.

 

His Holiness was also interviewed by ABC Channel 7 for a segment which aired later in the day.

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