26 June 2014. On Thursday 25 students from Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States of America majoring in Middle East Studies and accompanied by their professors met with His Holiness Aram I in Antelias. Catholicos Aram I introduced them to the Armenian Orthodox Church and spoke of the Christian presence in the…
A committee of architects and engineers nominated by His Holiness Aram I have been working on transforming the monastery in Bikfaya to receive the pilgrims, who, in 2015, will come from the diaspora to join the commemorative events. The area around the Genocide monument is being expanded and new monuments are being erected to recall…
On 19 June 2014, a delegation led by the President of the Central Committee of the party, Hagop Tikranian, and the Vice- President and Lebanese Member of the Lebanese Parliament, Sebouh Kalpakian, met with Catholicos Aram I in his office in Antelias. They discussed issues related to the Armenian community in Lebanon and the forthcoming…
Upon return of His Holiness Aram I Ā from the Vatican, Archbishop Paul Sayyah, the Patriarchal Vicar, visited the Catholicos to discuss the visit. His Holiness also received Archbishop Gabriele Giordano Caccia, the Apostolic Nuncio, to hear the impressions of His Holiness Aram I and proposals for a follow-up with some of the concerns. …
The annual Bible Study Course for women, organized by the Christian Education Department, ended on 17 June 2014. On this occasion His Holiness Aram I attended the closing ceremony and addressed the 150 women who followed the course. The Catholicos quoted 2 Thessalonians 2: 15 āā¦. stand firm and hold to the traditions which…
On Friday, 13 June 2014, His Holiness Aram I received Bishop Arseni, representative of the Russian Orthodox Church in Syria and Lebanon, in his office. The bishop transmitted the greetings of Patriarch Kirill. He then explained the purpose of his visit, after which they discussed the situation of Christians in the Middle East. Catholicos Aram…
Dear Dr. Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, I am writing to you as the Spiritual Head of Armenians in Syria and many communities in the Diaspora. I read your 29 July 2013 report to the General Assembly of the UN on the situation in Syria, which you made as the Chairman of the Independent International Commission of…
On Wednesday 11 June 2014, Ambassador David Hale visited His Holiness Aram I. During the meeting they discussed the situation in the region and most importantly in Syria and Lebanon.Ā
During his three day official visit to the Vatican, His Holiness Aram I emphasized the importance of theĀ Ā recognition and the reparation of the Armenian Genocide. His Holiness asked Pope Francis, both in His private and public meetings, to give His support to the Armenian cause.Ā Ā The issue of Armenian Genocide was present also…
On the last evening of the official visit to the Vatican, His Holiness Aram I, the accompanying clergy and the delegates held a festive dinner. After joyful singing, recitation of poems and thanksgiving, the Catholicos addressed the delegation and described the visit as a positive step in ecumenism and in giving visibility to Armenia…
Within the scope of his official visit to the Vatican, His Holiness met with Vaticanās Secretary of State Cardinal Parolini. They discussed issue related to the Middle East as well as major concerns and challenges facing the Christian communities. The Armenian Genocide was also discussed and His Holiness appreciated the support of the Vatican. …
During his visit to the Vatican, His Holiness Aram I also met with the ambassadors of Armenia and Lebanon. After these meetings the Lebanese ambassador General George khoury stressed the particular importance of His Holinessā visit to the Vatican, for the Middle East in general and Lebanon in particular. He reminded that Pope Francis…
7 June 2014. While visiting Pope Francis I in Rome, Catholicos Aram I received a report from Archbishop Shahan Sarkissian, prelate of the Armenian Diocese of Peria (Syria), on the aggression against Armenians in the Nor Kyugh neighbourhood of Aleppo. According to the report, Armenian Churches, schools and residences are being bombarded in the densely…
In a private meeting this morning with His Holiness the Pope Francis Catholicos Aram I briefly discussed the following issues.- The Christian presence in the Middle East, challenges and concerns facing the churches in the region, the Syrian conflict and the problems facing the Armenian community in Aleppo and Kessab, the centennial of the Armenian…
āYour solidarity with the Armenians during the 100th Anniversary Commemorations of the Genocide will be a valuable contribution to our just causeā Ā H.H. Aram I āThe history of emigration, persecutions and the martyrdom experienced by so many of the faithful has inflicted deep woonds on the hearts of all Armenians. We must see and venerate…
Vatican ā During the visit to the Vatican, His Holiness Aram I and his delegation attended a special prayer service organized by the St Egidio community at the St. John the Lateran Church in Rome. In his sermon, the Catholicos spoke of the theological and spiritual meaning of martyrdom (martyria) and linked it to…
The Vatican: Addressing the staff of the Vaticanās Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of Cilicia emphasized the growing importance of bilateral theological dialogues as āthe credible and efficient way of leading the churches towards the visible unityā. Ā His Holiness begun his talk by reminding the pivotal importance…
Accompanied by high ranking delegation composed of ten primates, His Holiness Aram I began his official visit to the Vatican on Tuesday 3 June 2014. Aram I arrived in Rome by a private plane and was met at the airport by His Eminence Cardinal Koch, the president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian…
On Sunday afternoon Rev. Dr. Olav Fikse Tveit met with Catholicos Aram I at his office in Antelias. After discussing challenges to the member churches following the 10th Assembly, and the expectations of the member churches from the World Council of Churches, Catholicos Aram I shared his concerns and made suggestions to Rev. Olav Fikse…
On Sunday 1 June 2014, His Holiness Aram I, accompanied by Bishop Shahe Panossian Prelate of Lebanon, and Archbishop Shahan Sarkissian, Prelate of Peria (Syria), attended the installation ceremony of Mor Ignatius Aphrem II as Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church. The ceremony was held at…
On Monday 2 June 2014, Catholicos Aram I and Patriarch Al Rai met to discuss the recent pilgrimage of the Patriarch to Jerusalem and Catholicos Aram Iās forthcoming meeting with Pope Francis of Rome. On the same day the Catholicos also met with the Apostolic Nuncio Cardinal Gabriele Giordano Caccia to discuss the programme…
