“The revitalization of the church, preparation of human agency, reiteration of values, reorganization of the diaspora, assisting the Lebanese and Syrian Armenian communities, participating in the strengthening of Armenia and Artsakh should be our immediate priorities”
His Holiness Catholicos Aram I
On Wednesday, December 7th, 2022, around 125 delegates from the prelacies of the Holy See of Cilicia, headed by their respective prelates, convened in Antelias for the World Assembly, presided by His Holiness Catholicos Aram I.
The World Assembly is the supreme legislative body of the Church and convenes quadrennially. Delegates, elected by the Diocesan National Representative Assemblies, prelates as ex-officio delegates, as well as two delegates from the Monastic Order come together to review the overall work of the prelacies and the Catholicosate and to set the priorities for the next period.
Conveying his pontifical blessings, His Holiness Aram I welcomed the participants and stated that the Assembly is in session during a critical moment in the history of the Armenian nation, hence it is called to take decisions that will provide new dimensions and emphasis to the nationwide mission of the Holy See.
Next, and according to the tradition, the youngest and the eldest participants were invited to act as an interim chair and hold the elections for the permanent chair. Accordingly, Mr. Vatche Najarian, Prelacy of Lebanon, and Mr. Ara Shahverdian, Prelacy of Tehran, were elected as co-chairpersons, and Ms. Houri Azezian, Prelacy of Peria (Syria), and Ms. Elizabeth Boyadjian, Western Prelacy of the United States, were elected as recording co-secretaries. The council of the Assembly in turn elected the subcommittees of the Assembly and then invited His Holiness to address the participants.
In his speech, the Catholicos stated that the past five years have been very chaotic with the pandemic, Artsakh war, explosion of the Port of Beirut and economic crisis in Lebanon. He continued saying that through all this, the Holy See of Cilicia persisted in its mission with utmost determination. The Catholicos then underlined the main priorities that will guide the work of the Holy See in the next four years: revitalization of the church; preparation of human agency; reiteration of values; reorganization of the diaspora; assisting the Lebanese and Syrian Armenian communities; participating in the strengthening of Armenia and Artsakh.
In the following sessions, the Religious and Lay Councils presented their reports, and offered insights and clarifications in response to questions from the delegates.
The Assembly will continue its sessions in the following two days.
