Main pageThe Department for Ecumenical RelationsThe Department for Ecumenical Relations was established in 1997 the initiative of His Holiness Catholicos Aram I. Since then its Ecumenical Officer is Archbishop Nareg Alemezian, who is in charge of coordinating the interchurch and interfaith activities of the Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Church Holy See of the Catholicosate of Cilicia. It has been a member of the World Council of Churches since 1962 and a founding member of the Middle East Council of Churches in 1974, and is actively involved in the ecumenical movement globally, regionally and locally. It has working relationships with various ecumenical organizations. It participates in many bilateral and multilateral ecumenical dialogues, such as the Eastern Orthodox-Oriental Orthodox Theological Dialogue, Fellowship of the Oriental Orthodox Churches in the Middle East, Oriental Orthodox Churches in the Middle East and Russian Orthodox Dialogue, Orthodox-Evangelical Dialogue, Oriental Orthodox-World Alliance of Reformed Churches Theological Dialogue, Oriental Orthodox-Anglican Communion Theological Dialogue and Oriental Orthodox-Catholic Church Theological Dialogue. It sent observers to the Vatican Council II. The visits of the Catholicoi to Popes and joint declarations, meetings and consultations with representatives of the Roman Catholic Church have all contributed greatly to the development of cordial relations and theological dialogue between the Armenian Church and the Roman Catholic Church. Its relations with the Churches of the Middle East have always been cordial. As one of the initiators of the ecumenical movement in the region, it took an active part in the foundation of the Middle East Council of Churches in 1974. It has played a key role in promoting the theological dialogue between the two families of the Orthodox tradition. It has played a significant role in developing a more organized collaboration among the Oriental Orthodox Churches, particularly following the meeting of the Heads of these Churches in Addis Ababa, in 1965. It sent observers to the Lambeth Conference of the Anglican Communion and continues to carry on an active program of mutual visitations of clergy and laity. It is actively involved in Inter-faith dialogues and relations with Islam and religions of the Far East. The Armenian Church continues with growing impetus and interest its relations with various Churches and ecumenical organizations. For more information you may contact Archbishop Nareg Alemezian (Ecumenical Officer) or Miss Rita Abrilian (Administrative Secretary) at: ARMENIAN APOSTOLIC ORTHODOX CHURCH
HOLY SEE CATHOLICOSATE OF CILICIA |