HIS HOLINESS ARAM I RECEIVES A HIGH-LEVEL DELEGATION
FROM THE
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
08/26/2008
His Holiness Aram I
received a 7-member high-level delegation from the Presbyterian Church
in the St. Asdvadzadzine Monastery in Bikfaya on August 26.
The Pontiff and his guests
met for about an hour discussing various issues related to the
activities of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC). As President
of the MECC, His Holiness briefed the delegation members on the various
aspects related to the Council’s work.
Another topic on the agenda
was the Christian-Muslim dialogue. His Holiness spoke in detail about
the engagement of the churches in the Middle East in general and the
Armenian church in particular in different dialogue activities on
regional and international levels.
The two sides also
discussed the “Djinishian Memorial” humanitarian service, which is also
supported by the Presbyterian Church. His Holiness expressed his praise
to the Church for its systematic support, which he added, encouraged the
Djinishian center’s staff to serve those in need in the various sectors
of social life.
THE REPRESENTATIVE OF
PATRIARCH ZAKKA I VISITS HIS HOLINESS
08/19/2008
Patriarch Zakka Iwas I of the Syrian Orthodox
Church delegated Archbishop Daniel to pay His Holiness Aram I a visit on
August 19. Archbishop Daniel presented a letter from Patriarch Zakka to
the Armenian Pontiff, and consulted him on a number of issues on behalf
of the Patriarch.
The Patriarch’s representative and His Holiness
also discussed new avenues of cooperation between the two Churches.
Archbishop Daniel, who recently replaced Archbishop Efrem as the Syrian
Orthodox Primate of Beirut, invited His Holiness to preside over the
Holy Mass to be held on the occasion of his election to the mentioned
post.
The Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and the
Catholicosate of Cilicia enjoy friendly relations and warm cooperation.
HIS HOLINESS ARAM I
RECEIVES THE GENERAL SECRETARY OF MECC
08/19/2008
His Holiness Aram I received the General Secretary
of the Middle East Council of Church (MECC) in his office on August 19.
The Primate of the Diocese of Lebanon, Bishop Kegham Khatcherian also
attended the meeting.
Saleh consulted His Holiness Aram I, the President
of the MECC, on a number of issues related to the Council, including the
agenda of the MECC executive council’s meeting to be held towards the
end of September in Cyprus.
Since the establishment of the MECC, the
Catholicosate of Cilicia has been a member of the council and brings its
active contribution to all its administrative activities by assigning
its representatives to important responsibilities in the council’s
various divisions.
HIS HOLINESS ARAM I
RECEIVES THE REPRESENTATIVES
OF THE PARLIAMENT SPEAKER
08/19/2008
His Holiness Aram I received a delegation
representing the Speaker of the Lebanese Parliament, His Excellency
Nabih Berri, in Bikfaya on August 19. The delegation was headed by
Sheikh Hassan El-Masri and Abdallah Mousa. Attending the meeting from
the Armenian side were the Primate of the Diocese of Lebanon, Bishop
Kegham Khatcherian, Bishop Norayr Ashekian and Dr. Jean Salmanian, a
member of the Christian-Muslim dialogue committee of Lebanon.
The members of the delegation passed on a message
from Berri to the Armenian Pontiff and discussed with him the positive
developments evident in the Lebanese political arena and their impact on
strengthening the internal unity of the country.
His Holiness Aram I stressed that the strength of
Lebanon is based on the internal unity of the country, which in turn is
dependant on mutual respect and trust between the country’s political
leadership.
HIS HOLINESS ARAM I RECEIVES THE REPRESENTATIVE
OF SHEIKH
KABALAN
08/18/2008
His Holiness Aram
I received the representatives of the Shiite Spiritual Leader Sheikh
Kabalan in the Catholicosate of Cilicia’s summer residence in Bikfaya on
August 18. Sheikh Kabalan’s son, the director of the Imam Mousasader
Foundation, and the Mufti of the Shiite community of Baalbeck met with
the Armenian Pontiff as well the Primate of the Diocese of Lebanon,
Bishop Kegham Khatcherian, Bishop Norayr Ashekian and Dr. Jean Salmanian
(a member of the Lebanese Christian-Muslim Dialogue committee).
A special event will be
held in Lebanon soon to mark the memory of Imam Mousasader. Sheikh
Kabalan’s representatives invited His Holiness to personally attend the
event and deliver a speech.
Both sides engaged in a
discussion of the Christian-Muslim dialogue, turning the meeting itself
into a dialogue based on mutual respect and trust between the two
religions. They stressed the importance of dialogue and reassessed the
activities carried in this respect for the sake of ensuring cohabitation
and cooperation between the communities of Lebanon.
HIS HOLINESS ARAM I
RECEIVES FORMER MINISTER RIZK
08/11/2008
His Holiness Aram I received the former Minister
of Justice on Lebanon, Charles Rizk, in Antelias on August 11.
The Armenian Pontiff and Minister Rizk reviewed
issues related to the situation in Lebanon. After assessing the work of
the former government, Rizk spoke about the challenges facing the newly
formed cabinet.
His Holiness stressed the need to use all means to
support the new Lebanese government in its attempts to open a new page
in the history of Lebanon. His Holiness and the former minister also
spoke about the role of the Armenian community in this respect and its
contribution to the internal political life of Lebanon.
On Monday also, His Holiness received the mayor of
Byblos, Joseph El-Shami and the committee of the municipality. His
Holiness and the delegation discussed projects related to decorating the
historic city of Byblos, where the “Birds’ Nest”, the orphanage that is
supported by the Catholicosate of Cilicia, is found.
HIS HOLINESS ARAM I
RECEIVES THE PRESIDENT OF AGBU
08/10/2008
His Holiness Aram I received the President of the
Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU), Berdj Setrakian, in Bikfaya on
August 10. Hagop Ateshian, a member of the Central Committee of the
Catholicosate, also attended the meeting.
His Holiness and his guest discussed issues of
interest to the Armenian nation worldwide, as well as projects underway
both in Armenia and the Diaspora under the auspices of AGBU.
The Pontiff praised the AGBU’s efforts
particularly in the educational and cultural fields. His Holiness also
reminded Mr. Setrakian that AGBU, as an organization of Pan-Armenian
character, must also support the projects of the Armenian Catholicosate
of Cilicia.
HIS HOLINESS ARAM I
RECEIVES THE AMBASSADOR OF IRAN
08/05/2008
His Holiness Aram I received the Ambassador of the
Islamic Republic of Iran, Mohammed Rida Shibani, in the Antelias
headquarters of the Catholicosate of Cilicia on August 5. The Ambassador
and his three advisers met with His Holiness for about two hours before
his departures to Iran.
Ambassador Shibani presented to the Pontiff his
evaluation of the internal situation in Lebanon and his country’s
approach towards various issues in this respect. He positively evaluated
the current political developments, underlining the contribution of the
Islamic Republic of Iran to the negotiations between various Lebanese
political groups in Qatar. Ambassador Shibani also briefed His Holiness
on the developments between Iran and the United States on the issue of
uranium enrichment.
His Holiness stressed the contribution of the
Armenian community of Iran to the development of the country and
expressed his satisfaction for the inclusion of three Armenian
monasteries in Iran (including the Monastery of Saint Tate) in UNESCO’s
list of international heritage sites. He praised the position of the
Iranian government and the Ministry of Culture in particular towards
Armenian sanctuaries.