On Thursday morning, February 28th, 2019, the feast of St. Vartanants was marked at St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral in Antelias with a Divine Liturgy and a special ceremony at the Main Hall of the Catholicosate. The Divine Liturgy was presided over by His Holiness Aram I and celebrated by Bishop Torkom Donoyan, the Vicar…
The publishing house of the Catholicosate of Cilicia released the French translation of His Holiness Aram I’s book “The Armenian Church” under the title “L’Église Armenienne.” The book provides an overview of the Armenian Church’s history, faith, witness, confession, liturgy and mission. Note that other translations are in process.
In anticipation to the first ever Taizé Youth Gathering in Lebanon (March 22-26), the organizers (MECC and the Churches in Lebanon) are holding monthly Ecumenical Prayers. The Ecumenical prayer of February was hosted on Friday, February 22nd, 2019, by the Armenian Orthodox Church, in St Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral, Antelias. Hundreds of youth of…
On Sunday, February 24th, 2019, following the Divine Liturgy, the clergy and the faithful moved to the Zarehian Mausoleum, where His Holiness Aram I presided over the memorial service in memory of deceased clergy of the Catholicosate of Cilicia.
On February 19th, 2019, His Holiness Aram I received the Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to Lebanon H.E. Dr. Hamad Saeed Al-Shamsi. Present at the meeting was also Bishop Mesrob Sarkissian, the Catholicosal Vicar of the UAE and Qatar. During the meeting, they talked about the current situation in Lebanon, especially after the formation of the new government, as well as about…
On February 18th, 2019, His Holiness Aram I departed for Armenia for a three-day visit where he will have meetings with the President of Republic of Armenia, the Prime Minister and the Catholicos Karekin II.
On February 16th and 17th, a group of Armenian youth coming from various communities of the Armenian Diaspora gathered in Antelias for a Youth Assembly to discuss topics related to challenges faced by Armenian youth and potential solutions. Bishop Mesrob Sarkissian chaired the Assembly and V. Rev. Bedros Manuelian and V. Rev. Zareh Sarkissian co-directed the sessions. …
“Facing New Horizons” is the latest publication of His Holiness Aram I. It consists of excerpts from the Catholicos’ pontifical messages and articles, which tackle topics about the Armenian Church, the Armenian people and the Armenian Diaspora, as well as issues related to the Armenian Cause
On Sunday, February 17th, 2019, His Holiness Aram I decorated the renowned Armenian composer Tigran Mansurian with the Knight of Cilicia insignia. Zakar Keshishian, conductor and performer of duduk & Shvi, delivered the opening speech and presented the life and legacy of the famed composer. His Holiness Aram I addressed the audience and spoke of the…
On February 14th, Armenia’s Ambassador to Lebanon Vahagn Atabekyan visited His Holiness Aram I in Antelias. The visit came after the Ambassador had returned from Armenia and it was an opportunity to talk about Armenia’s internal affairs, the new government program, Armenia-Diaspora relations, and issues pertaining Lebanese affairs.
On February 13th, 2019, the eve of the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus Christ to the Temple was celebrated at St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral. His Holiness presided over the special service, where Antasdan (Blessing of the Four Corners of the World), presenting the children to the altar for blessing, and the traditional bonfire…
On February 12th, Tigran Mansurian, the famed Armenian composer arrived to the Catholicosate of Cilicia and was received by His Holiness Aram I. Mansurian will be the guest of the Catholicosate this week, and will pay visits to the Birds’ Nest, Armenian Genocide Orphans’ “Aram Bezikian” Museum, St. Mary’s Monastery and the Armenian Theological…
On the occasion of declaring 2019 the Year of the Armenian Media, the Catholicosate of Cilicia is organizing an all-Armenian conference, which will be held on July 2nd to 4th, 2019, in Antelias. Editors and media personalities from Armenia, Artsakh and the Armenian Diaspora will participate at the conference. The topics will include challenges of…
On Wednesday, February 6th, 2019, His Holiness Aram I extended a letter of appreciation to the French President Emmanuel Macron on the occasion of declaring April 24 National Day for the Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide in France. In the letter, His Holiness stressed that this step is a manifestation of President Macron’s commitment…
On February 3rd and 4th, 2019, an international conference entitled “Human Fraternity” was held in Abu Dhabi under the patronage of the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, and under the auspices of Pope Francis and Dr. Ahmad Al-Tayeb, Grand Imam of the Al-Azhari Al-Sharif. Archbishop Sebouh Sarkissian and Bishop Mesrob Sarkissian participated in the conference…
From January 26th to February 1st, 2019, the 16th Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Oriental Orthodox Churches was held in the Vatican. Bishop Magar Ashkarian and V. Rev. Boghos Tinkjian represented the Catholicosate of Cilicia at the Dialogue. Participants discussed marriage, divorce, and mixed marriage, both in…
On Sunday, February 3rd, 2019, His Holiness Aram I decorated archeologist Prof. Levon Nordiguian with the “St. Mesrob Mashdots” Insiginia. The event was attended by the president and faculty of St. Joseph University, as well as guests from the Armenian, Lebanese, and French academic and intellectual communities. The Pontifical Encyclical was read after Christine Babikian…
His Holiness Aram I is closely following the situation in Venezuela and the difficulties faced by the Venezuelan Armenian community. In recent telephone conversations, Archbishop Gomidas Ohanian and Rev. F. Vahridge Gharakhanian briefed the Catholicos from Caracas. His Holiness Aram I said that he continues to pray for the safety of the people and hopes…
On Saturday, February 2nd, His Holiness Aram I received the newly appointed minister of Social Affairs, Dr. Richard Kouyoumjian, who was accompanied by the Regional Committee of the Armenian Democratic Liberal Party. Dr. Kouyoumjian received His Holiness’ received his blessing and they discussed the current state of the Lebanese government.
