On Wednesday, January 8th, 2025, a delegation from the Republic of Cyprus, consisting of members from various state ministries, visited His Holiness Catholicos Aram I in Antelias. The purpose of the visit was to assess the situation of Christian minorities in the Middle East and the challenges they face, with the aim of presenting this research to the European Union (EU).
In his presentation, His Holiness, who has lectured and written extensively on the topic, highlighted several key points:
- The term “minority” should be understood in its various religious, cultural, political, social, and legal contexts, which can differ by country.
- Christian communities view themselves as integral parts of the nations they inhabit, rather than as immigrants or mere minorities.
- As citizens, Christians should be able to participate fully in all state activities without facing discrimination.
- Generalizations about persecution in the Middle East should be avoided; the rights of Christians must be upheld by the constitution.
- Western countries should not position themselves as protectors of Christianity, as this could lead to backlash. Instead, they should respect the rights of Christians as citizens.
After sharing his insights, His Holiness Aram I responded to questions from the delegation.
Notably, the Catholicosal Vicar of the Armenian Diocese of Cyprus HE Arch. Gomidas Ohanian, attended the meeting next to His Holiness.
