AMBASSADOR OF ARMENIA TO LEBANON VISITS HIS HOLINESS ARAM I
On Tuesday 31 January 2011, Ambassador Ashod Kotcharian met with the Catholicos in his office.
Catholicos Aram I and the Ambassador talked about the forthcoming International Conference on Genocide organized by the Catholicosate from 23 to 25 February 2012. They also discussed the recent visit of the Foreign Minister of Turkey to Lebanon and issues related to Armenia-Diaspora relations.
In the end, His Holiness Aram I congratulated the Armenia’s National Army on the occasion of its 20th anniversary.
H.E. BOULOS MATAR THE MARONITE ARCHBISHOP OF BEIRUT IN ANTELIAS
On Monday 30 January 2012, Archbishop Boulos Matar visited His Holiness Aram I in his office. After transmitting the greetings of Maronite Patriarch Bechara Boutros al-Rai, on behalf of the Patriarch he invited the Catholicos to a lunch meeting on 7 February 2012, at the Archbishopric in Beirut.
The visit also provided the opportunity to discuss the Middle East and Christian-Muslim relations.
HIS HOLINESS ARAM I RECEIVES THE PRESIDENT OF ARMENIAN GENERAL BENEVOLENT UNION (AGBU)
On Friday 28 January 2012, the President of AGBU Berdj Setrakian and the former Vice-Moderator Sarkis Demirdjian met with His Holiness in his office.
Catholicos Aran I and his guests discussed Armenia-Diaspora relations and the challenges facing the Diaspora Armenians. In the end they talked about strengthening relations between the AGBU and the Catholicosate of Cilicia.
THE GENERAL SECRETARY OF THE WORLD COUNCIL OF CHURCHES
DR. OLAV FYKSE TVEIT MEETS WITH HIS HOLINESS ARAM I
On Saturday 28 January 2012, the General Secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC), Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, met with His Holiness Aram I in his office. After Dr Tveit informed the Catholicos of the activities of the WCC, they discussed the impact of the WCC on the life of the member churches.
At the end, His Holiness Aram I shared his views on the Council as the privileged instrument of the ecumenical movement, and said that it should enable the churches to respond to the current challenges posed by the Global Order. The suggestions of the Catholicos were based on his experience as Moderator of the WCC from 1991 to 2006.
At noon the General Secretary was invited to have lunch with His Holiness Aram I.
HIS HOLINESS ARAM I RECEIVES THE DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERRELIGIOUS DIALOGUE OF IRAN
On Friday 27 February 2012, Dr. Mohammad Mozafari, Director of the Department of Interreligious Dialogue met with His Holiness Aram I. Archbishop Sebouh Sarkissian accompanied Dr. Mozafari.
Dr. Mozafari introduced the activities of his department, and expressed the need to strengthen Christian-Muslim dialogue in the region. The representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran also recognized the important role of the Catholicosate of Cilicia in Christian-Muslim dialogue.
After listening to his guest, Catholicos Aram I emphasized the importance of including daily life issues in dialogue meetings.
At the end they talked of the on-going dialogue between the Catholicosate of Cilicia and the Islamic Republic of Iran in the past ten years and agreed to hold the next meeting in May 2012 in Tehran.
HIS HOLINESS ARAM I RECEIVES THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY
On Wednesday 25 January 2012, Dr Rana Khan, Adviser to the Archbishop of Canterbury on interfaith issues, met with His Holiness Aram I.
After transmitting the greetings of Archbishop Rowan Williams, Dr. Khan briefed the Catholicos on the interfaith activities of the Anglican Church in the UK and in the Dioceses in other regions. The Catholicos and Dr Khan then discussed recent developments in the Middle East and Christian-Muslim dialogue. His Holiness emphasized the urgency of adopting new approaches to interreligious dialogue, pointing out that “today, even Christian Europe has become a multi-religious continent.” He added, however, that we must be careful not to compromise the fundamentals of Christian faith.
MEMBER OF LEBANESE PARLIAMENT, NADIM GEMAYEL, VISITS HIS HOLINESS ARAM I
01/20/2012
On 20 January 2012, Nadim Gemayel, parliamentarian from Beirut, and two of his advisers met with His Holiness Aram I. They shared their concerns regarding the city. They also discussed the situation in the region and the Christian presence. His Holiness expressed his reservations on Turkey’s expressed role in the Middle East as defender of Christians. He said that because Turkey has its own agenda, its intentions should be assessed carefully.
‘WE SHOULD REMEMBER THAT TURKEY ALSO MASSACRED OTHER CHRISTIANS AND MUSLIMS’
Said HIS HOLINESS ARAM I
01/17/2012
On Tuesday 17 January 2012, His Holiness Aram I received Mr. Hares Chehab, President of the Christian Muslim Dialogue Committee of Lebanon. Dr. Jean Salmanian, the Armenian representative on the committee was accompanying.
Their conversations first focused on the activities of the committee, and an assessment of its work in view of the changes in the region. In relation to this discussion His Holiness Aram I informed the guest of an event that will take place in Antelias next week. An International meeting will bring together Muslim and Christian religious leaders to strengthen relationships on common issues.
They also talked about the current role of Turkey in the Middle East. His Holiness said. “Turkey should first protect Christians in its own territories, accept the Armenian Genocide committed by its previous leaders, and then defend Christians in the Middle East and speak of Human Rights.” He then expressed his dismay at the fact that Christian and Muslim leaders have reserved a warm reception to the Foreign Minister of Turkey accepting his invitation to visit Turkey. “We should not forget that Turkey has also massacred Christians and Muslims in Syria and Lebanon. We should learn from our bitter experiences and draw lessons for the future” the Catholicos concluded. His Holiness shared the same concerns with other spiritual and political leaders who visited him during the past weeks.
THE NEW GREEK AMBASSADOR TO LEBANON IN ANTELIAS
Last week the new Ambassador of Greece to Lebanon Dr. Catherine Boura met with His Holiness Aram I. They talked about Lebanon and the Armenian Community, the current upheavals in the region and the Armenian Cause. Dr. Boura who is also a specialist in Ottoman history was well versed on the Armenian Genocide.
At the end of the meeting, Ambassador Boura agreed with the Catholicos on the importance of cooperation between the two people, the Churches and the need for a stronger collaboration between the governments of Armenia and Greece.
Before parting, Dr. Catherine Boura spoke highly of the Armenian community in Greece and its contribution to the country.
HIS HOLINESS ARAM I RECEIVES THE AMBASSADOR OF KAZAKHSTAN
On Friday 13 January 2012 His Holiness Aram I received the Ambassador of Lebanon to Kazakhstan Vazken Karlakian, who is the first Lebanese Amabassador to that country. They discussed relations between the two countries and the role of Ambassador Karlakian in the political and economic rapprochement of Lebanon with Kazakhstan.
At the end of the visit, the Ambassador informed the Catholicos that he will be receiving an invitation from the Kazakh Government to an interreligious conference they will be organizing.
‘LEBANON SHOULD BECOME A MODEL FOR COMMUNITIES LIVING WITH DIFFERENCE’
Said His Holiness Aram I
On Tuesday 10 January 2012 His Holiness Aram I received in his office representatives of Youth Movements in Lebanon headed by the former MP. Dr. Pierre Daccache, and Mr. Paul Ayanian, Chairperson of the Association of Youth Movements in Lebanon and President of the Bourj Hammoud Business Association.
The focus of their conversation with the Catholicos was Lebanese pluralism and Christians and Muslims living together in harmony. After listening to the youth representatives, His Holiness Aram I expressed his appreciation for their commitment to peace building and then said. “Your commitment to building a culture of peace among the Lebanese should extend to the Lebanese Diaspora and become a model for the neighboring countries that are facing similar challenges.
‘COMMON VALUES SHOULD BE THE CORE OF CHRISTIAN-MUSLIM CONVIVIALITY’
SAID ARAM I TO MUSLIM CLERICS
01/09/2012
On Monday 9 January 2012, a delegation composed of Sunni and Shi’a clerics visited His Holiness Aram I. The visit lasted for more than an hour, during which they discussed the importance of strengthening relations between Christianity and Islam by emphasizing common religious values. His Holiness said. “As followers of Monotheistic religions, we have shaped our thoughts, traditions and cultures according to our religious values; living together has helped us identify common values. We should insist once more that these common values become the foundation for our conviviality.”
The clerics, who agreed that the two religions should strengthen their relationship, added their view that “the strong presence of the West in the Middle East, with its values and life-style was having a negative impact on the region, on family life and the youth.” They then proposed to meet more often with His Holiness Aram I and continue reflections. As a first step His Holiness proposed that institutions of theological education organize lectures on Christianity and Islam by exchanging faculty.