“LOVE MUST BECOME OUR WAY OF LIFE”
HIS HOLINESS CATHOLICOS ARAM I
On April 1st, 2021, His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia presided and conducted the once a year service, the Washing of the Feet.
Sung by the Seminary’s “Armash” Choir, Catholicos Aram I, following the footstep of Our Lord Jesus Christ, washed the feet of two Cilician monks, two deacons, and eight seminarians.
At the end of the service, His Holiness Aram I delivered his pontifical message, during which he took into reflection St. Peter the Apostle’s first letter to the Corinthians where the apostle stated: “If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing (1 Corin. 13:2).” His Holiness said: “With these simple words, the Apostle clearly explained the meaning of love and the reason to love. If we try to summarize Christianity in one word – it’s love.” His Holiness went on to say: “Love is not only one of God’s attributes, it’s God’s essence. That’s why, the love motivated God create the world, the love motivated God create man and appointe him a co-worker, that’s why the love motivated God to send his only-begotten Son to this world, to save us from our sins. That’s why, the love motivated Christ willingly to shed His blood on the cross. This is mystery of God’s love.” His Holiness then stated: “Christ not only emphasized the importance of love and not only provided wise advice and showed the path of love, but also made His life one of sacrificial love. To follow Christ means to live with love.”
His Holiness then went on to discuss the current difficulties taking place in the world and stated: “How important is it for each of us to live with love, individually, within our families and even in our collective lives. When love is absent, evil in different forms and expressions become present in our lives. When love is present, God is present with his love towards mankind through Christ.
At the end of the service, according to the Armenian tradition, the faithful received the blessed butter.
That same evening, the Service of Darkness took place where “Where are you my Mother” hymn was sung and the sermon was delivered by Very Rev. Fr. Barouyr Shernezian. The service was conducted with the participation of the seminarians.
