ARAM I: SERVING THE CHURCH AND THE PEOPLE OF GOD HAS BEEN
THE NOBLE CAUSE AND ONLY GOAL OF MY MINISTRY
06/28/2009
On Sunday 28 June 2009, the fourth Sunday after Pentecost, the Brotherhood celebrated the 14th anniversary of the election and consecration of His Holiness Aram I of the Holy See of Cilicia.
The readings and prayers of the Thanksgiving Liturgy called on people to denounce material glory and aim at righteousness and spiritual growth through service. The celebrant Father, Sahak Yemishian, explained the lesson of the day and linked it to the life and work of Catholicos Aram I.
After the Holy Liturgy, the members of the Brotherhood and the faithful walked in procession to the main Hall of the Catholicosate. In response to the messages he had received, His Holiness said: “During the past 14 years we have sought and found glory by serving the Catholicosate. We achieved this by seeking spiritual power and spiritual values and made these the mission of the Catholicosate. We embarked on this journey together with the members of our Brotherhood and the representatives of our Dioceses. We shall continue this journey as long as God gives us life.”
A RECENT UNESCO PUBLICATION INCLUDES
A SECTION ON THE ARMENIAN CHURCH
In the Arabic version of the recent publication by UNESCO entitled, “The Cultural Heritage of Christianity and Islam”, an important section is devoted to the Armenian Catholicosate Holy See of Cilicia. The work was the result of cooperation between the authors of the book, and the Department of Ecumenical Relations of the Catholicosate. Dr. Jean Salmanian, a member of the committee and an expert on Arabic language was the main contact between the two bodies.
HIS HOLINESS ARAM I PRESIDES OVER THE MEETING
OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE CATHOLICOSATE
06/05/2009
3-5 June 2009, the Central Committee of the National Council of the Armenian Orthodox Church Catholicosate of Cilicia met in Antelias (Lebanon). The Central Committee meets in the absence of the National Council and it consists of the Prelates and lay Representatives of all Dioceses. The Central Committee works under the Leadership of His Holiness Aram I. Its function is to receive activity reports from dioceses all over the world, oversee and endorse new programme plans and budget.
His Holiness Aram I opened the meeting and welcomed the members of the Central Committee. In his opening speech he said that the Central Committee, consisting of clergy and laity, had the important task of identifying issues specific to each diocese based on its geographic, cultural and religious context, and proposing a comprehensive response that would renew and invigorate Christian life in all dioceses of the Catholicosate.