THE CATHOLICOSATE OF CILICIA PARTICIPATES
IN THE WORLD VISION’S YOUTH CONFERENCE
07/31/2008
The World Vision organized its Youth Bible Curriculum 2008 conference in Cyprus on July 29-31 attracting some 30 delegates from around the world.
The Armenian Church was represented in the conference by Fr. Torkom Donoyian and Garo Aghazarian from the Catholicosate of Cilicia, as well as by Fr. Yesayi Artenian and Fr. Barouyr Avedssian from the Catholicosate of All Armenians.
The conference discussed the various issues related to reviewing religion textbooks, preparing new textbooks, as well as teaching methodology and the incorporation of modern pedagogical techniques in the classroom. The delegates spoke about the methods used in Christian Education in their respective countries whether in religion classes in regular schools or Sunday schools.
The Catholicosate of Cilicia’s representatives also represented Lebanon in the conference.
THE CATHOLICOSATE OF CILICIA PARTICIPATES IN AN
INTERNATIONAL INTERFAITH DIALOGUE CONFERENCE
07/18/2008
The International Islamic League organized an international inter-faith dialogue conference on July 16-18 in Madrid under the auspices of the King of Saudi Arabia, Abdallah Ben Abd-el Aziz Al-Saoud.
The first ever such initiative by Saudi Arabia, the conference brought together the representatives of all the main religions and ecumenical organizations in the world. As one Spiritual Head who has taken the lead in several interfaith initiatives, His Holiness Aram I was also invited to participate in the conference. Given his busy schedule, the Pontiff delegated the Primate of the Diocese of Lebanon, Bishop Kegham Khatcherian, to attend the conference on his behalf.
The kings of Saudi Arabia and Spain chaired the opening ceremony of the conference, which was held in the medieval mansion of the King of Spain. Also attending the ceremony was Spanish Prime Minister Zapatero. Both kings, as well as the General Secretary of the International Islamic League, Dr. Abdullah Abd El-Mohsen El-Turki, delivered speeches during the ceremony.
Bishop Kegham read out His Holiness Aram I’s address to the conference, a brief speech which engaged in a critical examination of the nature of interfaith dialogue. Based on his vast experience in the international ecumenical arena as well as the daily experience of coexistence in the Middle East, His Holiness presented the depths of interfaith dialogue in a lively manner and discussed the potential for its future development.
The conference included five sessions, each of which featured presentations by four representatives from different religions from around the world. The presentations touched on various aspects of inter-faith dialogue.
At its conclusion, the conference adopted an official press release praising the role of the Saudi king in organizing this unprecedented initiative. The press release also suggested continuing the dialogue and organizing a new conference under the auspices of the United Nations.
HIS HOLINESS ARAM I WELCOMES THE
INCLUSION OF THE ARMENIAN CHURCHES OF IRAN IN THE LIST OF UNESCO
07/21/2008
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) this year officially registered the Monastery of Saint Tate in the Armenian Diocese of Azerbaijan (Iran) in its list of internationally recognized heritage sites. Included in the same list are the Monastic complex of Saint Stephanos and the Saint Asdvadzadzine Chapel of Dzor Dzor. On this occasion His Holiness Aram I in a letter to the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran welcomed “this great spiritual and cultural achievement and the important role of the Islamic Republic of Iran in this respect”.
Speaking about the importance of these religious sites, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I said: “Among these historically valuable religious structures, the Monastery of Saint Tate has a special importance and meaning for our people and church. It is where one of the first Apostles that brought Christianity to the Armenian nation, Saint Tateos, was martyred. The annual pilgrimage to Saint Tate is a centuries-old tradition for our people. On three occasions we have personally led the pilgrimage to Saint Tate”.
Considering the presence of these religious sites within the borders of the Islamic Republic of Iran “as a tangible expression of Christian-Muslim coexistence”, His Holiness emphasized the importance of deepening the dialogue of religions, cultures and civilizations.
THE CATHOLICOSATE OF CILICIA’S REPRESENTATIVE PARTICIPATES
IN WELCOMING LEBANESE CAPTIVES
07/16/2008
Alongside other spiritual leaders of Lebanese communities, His Holiness Aram I’s representative, Bishop Norayr Ashekian, participated in the welcoming reception of Lebanese captives returned to their homeland.
Together with the three chiefs of the state, the members of government, the leaders of Lebanese political parties and religious leaders, Bishop Norayr welcomed the five captives, considering their return a festive occasion for Lebanon and a bright horizon for a good future.
HIS HOLINESS SENDS A BLESSING LETTER TO THE PILGRIMS
OF SAINT TATE
07/05/2008
His Holiness Aram I sent a letter of blessing to the pilgrims gathered in Saint Tate in the Diocese of Azerbaijan, Iran, on the occasion of the feast of Saint Thaddeus and Saint Santoukhd. The annual pilgrimage on July 5 was the 54th pilgrimage in this well known sanctuary in Iran where thousands of faithful from the various cities of Iran and the world gathered.
In his Pontifical encyclical, His Holiness writes: “It gives us great pleasure to see the strong bond that ties our people and specially the Armenians of Iran to Saint Tate. Next year, we will mark the 55th anniversary of the annual pilgrimage to this centuries-old Monastery. We expect the number of pilgrims to grow with time. It is our wish for Saint Tate to persist in our nation’s life as a source for the renewal of faith and the eternal survival of our spiritual and national values.”
On this occasion the Pontiff also greets the Primate of the Diocese of Azerbaijan, Iran, Bishop Neshan Topouzian, and the community officials. The faithful participating in the annual pilgrimage to Saint Tate set up hundreds of tents around the Monastery for three days.
"UNITY MUST REMAIN A HIGH PRIORITY
FOR THE ECUMENICAL MOVEMENT"
HIS HOLINESS ARAM I
His Holiness Aram I made this appeal on the occasion of the blessing of the Holy Muron in Antelias. He emphasized the deep meaning of the Holy Muron in the Armenian Church in baptism and confirmation. Baptism with water and anointment with the Holy Muron, he said, leads us into a common life in Jesus Christ. The baptized, as the community of believers, are the church. Baptism leads Christians towards achieving God's gift of visible unity in one faith.
In the course of history, geographical, cultural and doctrinal differences have frequently divided the churches. According to His Holiness these divisive characteristics of the church belong to its institutional expression and not to its esse. The churches are called to work for visible unity and heal these wounds in the power of the Holy Spirit.
The World Council of Churches was established in 1948 as an instrument to assist churches towards achieving the goal of unity. Despite the efforts of the Commission on Faith and Order to respond to different understandings of unity arising from different world contexts and world views, and despite the Commission's efforts, with the active participation of the Roman Catholic theologians, to initiate convergence processes in the critical areas of ecclesiology and doctrine, the ecumenical movement has failed to achieve a common vision of unity. There are a number of reasons for this failure. The churches and confessional families are preoccupied with their own domestic problems. They prefer bilateral dialogues to multilateral commitments. And, the ecumenical movement, by adopting new priorities in response to the new realities of the world, has shifted away from the vision of unity as its raison d'être. Catholicos Aram I is clear on this point: "The vision of unity should remain the overarching goal for witness and service, for growing together in fellowship and in acting together".
Aram I, who served as Moderator of the WCC for 15 years, firmly believes that "the ecumenical movement should not compromise unity for new types of relationships and new concerns" In his view, "unfortunately, we observe this phenomenon not only on the global level, but also in regional and national ecumenical bodies. We observe this trend not only among younger member churches but also among those churches that have played a major role in the formation and expansion of the modern ecumenical movement. Unity must recover its central place in the ecumenical movement. Otherwise, the ecumenical movement will lose its meaning and importance and will become disoriented, will disintegrate and will be replaced by coalitions, alliances and forums".