June 28, 2020

THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF HIS HOLINESS ARAM I’S ENTHRONEMENT AS CATHOLICOS OF HOLY SEE OF CILICIA

Today, we mark the 25th anniversary of the election and consecration of His Holiness Aram I as Catholicos. Various events had been planned for this occasion in the Mother Cathedral, in Antelias, and in the Armenian Prelacies across the Armenian Diaspora, but had to be postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

 

Pontifical Thanksgiving on Sunday, June 28th, 2020

 

According to our church tradition, during the Divine Liturgy a Pontifical Thanksgiving was held at St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral dedicated to the 25th anniversary of the election and consecration of His Holiness Aram I as Catholicos. 

 

The celebrant HG Bishop Meghrig Parikian delivered his message citing from the Gospel of John and stated that 25 years ago, Aram I, with his election and consecration as Catholicos, took on Peter’s path and accepted his new mission of becoming the head of the Holy See of Cilicia and serving its faithful. He also shed light on the biography and achievements of His Holiness Aram I, underlining that one cannot separate the name of His Holiness from the achievements of the Catholicosate of Cilicia over the past 25 years.

 

Celebration in the Main Hall of the Catholicosate 

 

At the end of the Holy Liturgy a brief ceremony took place in the Main Hall of the Catholicosate in attendance of the Cilician brothers and members of the National General Assembly.

 

Rev. Fr. Bedros Manuelian, Pontifical Vicar of the Armenian Prelacy of Kuwait, addressed His Holiness Aram I. He shed light on the last 25 years of His Holiness’ life and talked about the significant role of Aram I during key dates, such as the 1700th anniversary of the establishment and adoption of Christianity as State Religion in Armenia in 2001, the centennial of the Armenian Genocide in 2015, the Four-Day War in 2016, the 100th anniversary of the First Republic of Armenia in 2018 to name a few, and closed his speech highlighting the father figure embodied by the Catholicos.

 

The Ceremony was concluded with His Holiness’ remarks. He thanked Bishop Meghrig and V. Rev. Fr. Bedros for their well wishes on behalf of the Cilician Brothers and the faithful. In his speech, Aram I renewed his oath to serve God, the Church and the people, adding that the path, quality and value of life and aim of a clergy is to serve, regardless of of their rank.   

 

During the celebration, Armash Choir recited spiritual and national songs.

 

A Luncheon with the Brotherhood

 

Following the ceremony, a luncheon was held in the Catholicosate’s reception hall in attendance of the Cilician brothers. At the end of the luncheon, His Holiness addressed the brotherhood and talked about the mission of the Holy See of Cilicia over the past 25 years and underlined three main values: character, loyalty and service.   

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