On Friday, March 22nd, 2019, His Holiness Aram I presided over the meeting of the newly formed Ecumenical Relations Committee of the Catholicosate of Cilicia, in Antelias. Archbishop Sebouh Sarkissian, Prelate of Tehran, was the chair, and V. Rev. Fr. Hrant Tahanian, Director of the Ecumenical Relations Department, was the secretary of the meeting. …
On Friday, March 22nd, 2019, a Mid-Lent Luncheon was held at the Catholicosate of Cilicia, organized by the Catholicosateās Sunday School administration and its Ladies Auxiliary. On this occasion, His Holiness Aram I visited the event, shared a meal with them and gave them his blessings. His Holiness also addressed the attendees of the luncheon…
On Thursday, March 21st, 2019, His Holiness Aram I received H.E. Metropolitan Emmanuel of France and Western Europe, Special Representative of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, accompanied by the Representative of the Ecumenical Patriarch in Athens. The visit aimed at discussing, on behalf of All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch, the present challenges and difficulties faced by…
This year marks the 150th anniversary of the birth of Gomidas Vartabed, Armenian composer, ethnomusicologist, researcher and singer. The āShnorhaliā choir of the Catholicosate of Cilicia will celebrate this event with a concert dedicated to the renowned composer in the month of October.
On Monday, March 18th, 2019, His Holiness Aram I received Grigori Martirosyan, State Minister of the Republic of Artsakh, accompanied by Gagik Martorosyan, Head of Shahumyan regional administration. Present at the meeting were also Vahagn Atabekyan, Armenian Ambassador to Lebanon, Peniamin Bchakjian, representative of Artsakh Roots Investment (ARI), Garo Kebabjian, Representative of the Republic of…
On Saturday, March 16th, 2019, the 10th Inter-school Competition of the Khatchig Babigian Fund organized by the Educational-Armenological Department of the Catholicosate of Cilicia commenced at the Cilicia Museum. 45 students competed in the first round in Poetry Recitation. The second and final round for this category will be concluded on April 6th. Ā This…
On Sunday, March 17th, 2019, His Holiness Aram I presided over a requiem service for the soul of Archbishop Mesrob Mutafyan, the Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople. Requiem services were also held in all our churches, where His Holinessā letter of condolence was read. Note that, Archbishop Nareg Alemezian, Prelate of Lebanon, and Bishop Magar Ashkarian,…
On Tuesday March 12th, 2019, a press conference was held for the official launching of the International Ecumenical Youth Meeting, that is organized through the collaboration of the MECC, the churches in Lebanon, and the TaizĆ© Ecumenical Brotherhood. The meeting will take place between March 22nd and 26th, and is expecting over 1500 youth participants…
On March 12th, 2019, His Holiness Aram I receives the President of the Armenian General Benevolent Union Berge Setrakian. They talked about the situation in the Republic of Armenia, as well as issues pertaining the Armenia-Diaspora cooperation.
On Monday, March 11th, His Holiness Aram I received Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) Bureau Chair Hagop Der Khatchadourian and ARF Bureau member Peniamin Bchakjian. Ā They talked about issues pertaining the Armenian Diaspora, the Armenia-Diaspora relations, the Armenian Cause and Artsakh.
The 56th meeting of the World Council of Churches (WCC) Commission of the Churches on International Affairs (CCIA) took place on February 24-28, 2019, in Bali, Indonesia. Prof. Nora Bayrakdarian Kabakian, member of the CCIA representing the Holy See of Cilicia, participated at the five-day meeting. Dr. Bayrakdarian Kabakian partook in the discussions especially through…
His Holiness Aram I received the news of the passing of the Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople Archbishop Mesrob Mutafyan on Friday noon with deep sorrow. His Holiness and the Cilician Brotherhood offered their condolences to the Locum Tenens of the Patriarchate, the Brotherhood, the Religious Council and the Armenian community in Turkey.
The 1st meeting of 2019 of the Executive Committee of KAICIID, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Center for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue, was held on March 1st and 2nd in Lebanon. The Catholicosate of Cilicia participated at this meeting with its representative Prof. Jean Salmanian. Ā Following the two-day meeting, the ExCom agreed upon…
On Tuesday, March 5th, 2019, the architects of the Catholicosate held a work meeting at the Cilicia Museum to plan its renovation and it was chaired by His Holiness Aram I. Note that Garo Eshkiyan will fund the renovation. Ā
Under the auspices of His Holiness Aram I and organized by the Christian Education Department, a āSacred Concertā dedicated to the late His Eminence Archbishop Zareh Aznavorian took place on Sunday Evening, March 3rd, 2019, at St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral in Antelias. Ā āShnorhaliā and childrenās āNaregatsiā choirs, led by Rev. Fr. Zaven Najarian,…
Armenian Church Fathers have described the Great Lent as the āPowerful Gate,ā constructed through self-introspection and abstinence, in anticipation of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. For the Fathers, the Great Lent is an invitation to engage in spiritual quest. According to Gregory of Datev, āthe spirit is cleansed by tears serving as hot water and…
On Sunday morning, March 3rd, 2019, following the Divine Liturgy, His Holiness Aram I received the Sunday School students on the occasion of Poun Paregentan (the Eve of the Great Lent). The children were disguised in different costumes and presented hymns and songs of the feast that they have learned in Sunday schools. His Holiness…
On Friday, March 1st, 2019, a group of United Armenian College elementary students visited His Holiness Aram I to celebrate Poun Paregentan (the Eve of the Great Lent). They were wearing different costumes and had brought with them the traditional Poun Paregentan treats. His Holiness welcomed the children in the Main Hall of the…
Under the auspices of His Holiness Aram I and organized by the Christian Education Department of the Catholicosate of Cilicia, the two-day Inter-Diocesan Christian Education Conference convened on the morning of February 1st, 2019, in Antelias. The participants of the conference were representatives of Christian education departments of the Catholicosateās prelacies constituting the Christian Education…
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 Iās book āThe Armenian Churchā under the title āLāĆglise Armenienne.ā The book provides an overview of the Armenian Churchās history, faith, witness, confession, liturgy and mission. Note that other translations are in process.
In anticipation to the first ever TaizĆ© Youth Gathering in Lebanon (March 22-26), the organizers (MECC and the Churches in Lebanon) are holding monthly Ecumenical Prayers.Ā 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. Ā
On February 19th, 2019, His Holiness Aram IĀ received theĀ Ambassador of the United Arab EmiratesĀ toĀ LebanonĀ H.E. Dr. Hamad Saeed Al-Shamsi. Present at the meeting was alsoĀ Bishop Mesrob Sarkissian, theĀ CatholicosalĀ VicarĀ 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 relatedĀ toĀ challengesĀ 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. Ā …
āFacing New Horizonsā is the latest publication of His Holiness Aram I. It consists of excerpts from the Catholicosā 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 theĀ Knight ofĀ CiliciaĀ 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, Armeniaās 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 Armeniaās 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. Ā Mansurian will be the guest of the Catholicosate this week, and will pay visits to the Birdsā Nest, Armenian Genocide Orphansā āAram Bezikianā Museum, St. Maryās 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. Ā In the letter, His Holiness stressed that this step is a manifestation of President Macronās commitment…
On February 3rd and 4th, 2019, an international conference entitled āHuman Fraternityā 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. Ā 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 āSt. Mesrob Mashdotsā 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 Holinessā received his blessing and they discussed the current state of the Lebanese government.
On Thursday, 31st of January 2018, His Holiness Aram I received the Governor of Beirut, Ziad Chebib, who was accompanied by Aram Malian, member of the Beirut Municipal Council. Governor Chebib briefed His Holiness about the forthcoming plans and projects of the Beirut Municipality. His Holiness commended the efforts of the governor and his administration…
On Friday, January 25th, 2019, The Armenian University Graduatesā Association had its meeting and planned their forthcoming events. These meetings are held on the last Friday of each month. For those interested to join, kindly contact the chairperson Hagop Handian by calling 03-325779. Ā
On Saturday, January 26th, His Holiness Aram I decorated Dr. Krikor Doumanian’s widow, Ms. Metti Doumanian, with the āKnight of Ciliciaā Insignia. The philanthropist Dr. Doumanian has been a close friend of the Catholicosate, Birdsā Nest Orphanage, as well as Western Prelacy of the Armenian Church (USA). Ā Present at the event were Archbishop Moushegh…
The conclusion of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity in Lebanon took place at St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral on January 27th, 2019, in Antelias. His Holiness Aram I presided over the ceremony, and present were leaders from different Christian churches and denominations, as well as the faithful. Spiritual fathers, the Armenian Theological…
On January 22 and 23, 2019, the Middle East Council of Churches held its Executive Committeeās sessions at the Patriarchal Residence of the Syriac Orthodox Church in Atchaneh, Lebanon. The Prelate of Tehran Archbishop Sebouh Sarkissian and Prof. Jean Salmanian participated on behalf of the Armenian Church, Catholicosate of Cilicia. Ā Dr. Souraya Bechealany, Acting…
On Saturday, January 26th, 2019, His Holiness Aram I received Garo Paylan, the Armenian deputy of the Turkish Parliament. Paylan was accompanied by Alexan Keoshgerian, member of the Central Committee of the Social-Democrat Hunchakian Party, and Mardig Jamgochian, the chairperson of the Lebanon Regional Committee of the same party. Ā During the meeting, among others,…
On Thursday, January 24th, 2019, the Secretary-General of the Lebanese Phalangist Party, Nazar Najarian, visited His Holiness Aram I, in Antelias. The Catholicos and Mr Najarian discussed a resolution put forth to the Parliament by the Lebanese Phalangist Party and the Armenian Revolutionary Federation. The resolution declares April 24th as the National Remembrance Day of…
The Week of Prayer for Christian unity in Lebanon will conclude on January 27th, 2018, at 6pm, at St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral in Antelias. His Holiness Aram I will preside over the ceremony, which will be attended by leaders from different Christian churches and denominations.
On Friday evening, January 18th, His Holiness Aram I surprised the students of the Armenological department of the Catholicosate of Cilicia with his visit. Jirayr Tanielian, the director of the department, and prof. Ashod Melkonian, who has come to Antelias from Armenia as a guest lecturer, accompanied His Holiness. Aram I and the students…
On Thursday, January 17th, 2018, His Holiness Aram I received Bishop of Syrian Orthodox Church in Lebanon George Saliba accompanied by Archbishop Nareg Alemezian, the Prelate of Lebanon. Ā Ā They discussed topics such as strengthening the cooperation between the two sister churches and the participation of the oriental orthodox churches in the theological dialogues,…
On Tuesday, January 15th, 2019, His Holiness Aram I received a delegation from the Middle East Council of Churches, composed of the General Secretary Dr. Souraya Bechealany and member of the executive committee Dr. Jean Salmanian, as well as directors from various MECC departments. The delegation briefed His Holiness on their recent projects in economical,…
On Monday, January 14th, 2019, His Holiness Aram I sent a letter of congratulations to the Prime Minister of Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan on the occasion of his appointment. His Holiness also congratulated Ararat Mirzoyan, the newly elected Speaker of the National Assembly of Armenia.
On the occasion of declaring 2019 the Year of the Armenian Media, consultation sessions with a group of prominent Armenian journalists were held in Antelias preparing for the Pan-Armenian conference on Media to be held in Antelias in April 2019. Ā Present at the first meeting were the President of the Union of Journalists of…
On Wednesday, January 9th, 2019, His Holiness Aram I received a delegation representing the Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, composed of three members of the executive committee of Amal Movement, and another delegation of the Religious convention of the Muslim communities. Ā The discussion of the meetings involved the Lebanese current situation and Christian-Muslim cooperation.…
On Friday, January 11th, His Holiness Aram I received a delegation representing the Lebanese Army Command, who congratulated the Lebanese Armenian community on the occasion of the Armenian Christmas and expressed best wishes. Ā The visit was also an opportunity to discuss issues concerning the security in Lebanon. They talked about the role and the…
On Thursday, January 10th, 2019, two French Armenian Armenologists Professors Claude Moutafian and Raymond Kevorkian visit His Holiness Aram I. Ā During the visit they discussed the contemporary challenges that the Armenian Studies faces. His Holiness stressed the importance of paying special attention to the field and stated that the Catholicosate of Cilicia, through its…
On January 8th, 2018, the Armenian Catholic Patriarch Krikor Bedros XX Ghabroyan, accompanied by Bishop Kevork Assadourian, the Vicar General of the Armenian Catholic Patriarchate in Lebanon, Bishop Manuel Batakian and V. Rev. Sebouh Garabedian, the director of the Communication Department, paid a Christmas visit to His Holiness Aram I. Present at the meeting were…
A consultation on āReligions in OBOR,ā entitled āThe Silk Road (OBOR): Remembering the Old and Thinking of the New, was held at the Armenian Church, Catholicosate of Cilicia on Monday, January 7th, 2019. His Holiness Aram I presided over the consultation, which was initiated by Minzu University of the China (University of Minorities) and the…
On Sunday, January 6th, 2019, the Armenian Orthodox Christmas Divine Liturgy was presided over and celebrated by The Catholicos, His Holiness Aram I, at St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral in Antelias. The Shnorhali Choir, conducted by Rev. Fr. Zaven Najarian, sang the Liturgy. The faithful were joined at the service by Lebanese Armenian political…
Under the high patronage of His Holiness Aram I, the āShnorhaliā choir of the Catholicosate of Cilicia held its Christmas Concert dedicated to the 45th anniversary of its establishment, on Friday, January 4th, at St. Joseph Church in Monot. Ā Rev. Fr. Zaven Najarian had chosen a repertoire of 18 hymns and Christmas songs in…
On Thursday, January 3rd, 2019, His Holiness had the following meetings consecutively: 1) The representative of Syriaās Grand Mufti Ahmad Badreddin Hassoun. The representative delivered a letter to His Holiness on behalf of the Grand Mufti inviting him to Damascus. His Holiness expressed his salute and informed him that he will pay a visit to…
On Thursday, January 3rd, 2019, His Holiness Aram I received the Senior Pastor of the National Evangelical Church of Beirut Rev. Dr. Habib Badr and Lebanese MP Rev. Dr. Edgard Traboulsi. Ā They discussed issues concerning the current situation in Lebanon, focusing on matters regarding the Christian communities. His Holiness underlined the imperative of strengthening…
During the last week, His Holiness Aram I had the followings meetings: With Dr. Michel Nseir from the World Council of Churches, special focus on the Middle East. Dr. Nseir briefed his Holiness on the recent updates concerning reconstruction of Syria and they exchanged concerns and suggestions. His Holiness stressed the imperative of the reorganizing…
On Saturday, December 27th, 2018, His Holiness Aram I held a phone conversation with the President of the Republic of Armenia Armen Sarkissian and the Acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. They exchanged Christmas and New Yearās wishes. Also, His Holiness discussed with them the actual issues pertaining the Armenia-Diaspora cooperation.
During Christmas time, by the blessing of His Holiness Catholicos Aram I of the Armenian Church, Holy See of Cilicia, Catholicosate of Cilicia doubles its effort to reach as many people as possible through its social services. Volunteers gathered around the Armenian Church Christian Education Department prepared many gifts, including food, to 170 families in…
On Sunday morning, December 23rd, 2018, His Holiness Aram I presided over the Divine Liturgy at St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral in Antelias, celebrating the feast of St Stephen, the proto deacon and martyr. On this occasion. relics of the saint were taken out from the Cilicia Museum. Bishop Magar Ashkarian celebrated the Holy Liturgy…
On December 21st, 2018, His Holiness Aram I, accompanied by members of the Brotherhood, visited the Armenian Sanatorium of Azounieh on the occasion of Christmas. The Catholicos was received by the director, the board members, the medical corps and the staff, as well as by the residents. The latter had prepared Christmas songs, hymns and…
On December 20th, His Holiness Aram I, accompanied by priests from the Cilician Brotherhood, visited the Birdsā Nest orphans and celebrated with them Christmas. He was met by the director of the school, Ā the members of the Board of Trustees and the Kayanian Sisters. His Holiness joined the children and participated in their program, where…
On Tuesday, December 20th, 2018, His Holiness Aram I received the newly-appointed Ambassador of Armenia to Lebanon H.E. Vahagn Atabekyan, in Antelias. Ā During this introductory meeting, His Holiness Aram I gave a brief account on the mission of the Armenian Church, Catholicosate of Cilicia, the Lebanese Armenians, the Lebanese internal affairs, as well as…
On December 19th, 2018, His Holiness Aram I, accompanied by priests of the brotherhood, paid a Christmas visit to the Armenian Elderly Home in Bourdj Hamoud, where they were received by Rev. Sebouh Terzian, the director of the Home, as well as by the Board of Trustees and the Ladies Auxiliary. Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā The Elderly…
With a special Pontifical Message, His Holiness Aram I proclaimed 2019 the year of the Armenian Media. Ā The tradition of dedicating each year to a specific aspect of the Armenian life started in 2003 and was received by Armenians everywhere with appreciation, since it allows different circles in the Armenian communities to organize various…
On Monday, December 17th, 2018, a delegation representing His Holiness Aram I and the Catholicosate of Cilicia met with the Acting Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia H.E. Nikol Pashinyan, in the Government Building, in Yerevan. The delegation was composed of co-chairs of the Central Committee of the Catholicosate, Mr. Stepan Der Bedrossian and…
On Friday, December 14th, 2018, the Feast of St. James of Nisibis was celebrated at the Catholicosate of Cilicia during which the Blessing of the Four Corners of the World (Antasdan) was performed with the relics of St James of Nisibis and St. Nicholas Wonderworker taken out from the Cilicia Museum. His Holiness Aram I…
On Tuesday, December 11th, Bishop Masis Zoboyan, Prelate of Kuwait and the Neighboring Countries, represented the Catholicosate of Cilicia at the Paris International Conference on āEnding Discrimination Against Christians and Minorities in the Orient,ā organized by the Coordination of Christians of the Orient in Danger (CHREDO). Ā In his presentation, Bishop Zoboyan underlined that extremism…
On Sunday, December 9th, 2018, His Holiness Aram I presided over the requiem service held at St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral in Antelias for the souls of the victims who fell during the devastating earthquake in Spitak, Armenia, 30 years ago, and for Armenia and all Armenians around the world.
On Saturday, December 1st, 2018, His Holiness Aram I had a meeting with the architects of the Catholicosate at St. Maryās Monastery, in Bikfaya, to inquire about the three main construction projects taking place on the premises: the Episcopal residence and guesthouse, a recreation ground for the seminarians, and a new engraving on the fence…
On Thursday, November 29th, 2018, His Holiness Aram I presided over the meeting of the Committee in Protection of the Western Armenian Language, in Antelias. The Committee, chaired by Yervant Pamboukian, discussed, among others, the Western Armenian Spelling Guideline it has designed. After it is finalized by the committee members across the Armenian Diaspora,…
This morning Rev. Sebouh Terzian, the Director of the Armenian Elderly Home visited His Holiness Aram I and briefed him about the activities of the AEH. The Director said: āāThe Armenian Elderly Home continues its ministry serving the elderly population of our Armenian community in Lebanon. This is their āāHOMEāā and we are glad to…
On Saturday, November 24th, 2018, the World Student Christian Federation ā Lebanese Ecumenical Youth Committee (WSCF-ME) visited His Holiness Aram I in Antelias. The committee, who had held its assembly at the Catholicosate prior to the meeting, was headed by the chair of the committee Garen Yosulkanian, who is also an ACUSA member. Ā The…
On Monday, November 26th, His Holiness Aram I sent condolences letter to the Iranian President Hasan Rouhani following deadly earthquake that hit Iranās Kermanshah province and took the lives of hundreds of people. Ā
On Friday, November 23rd, 2018, The Catholicosate of Cilicia hosted mountaineer and runner Ara Khatchadourian at the Armenian Theological Seminary in Bikfaya. Khatchadourian had climbed, among others, Mounts Ararad and Everest and crossed 4550 km from Marseille to Yerevan in 107 days to make a call of peace to the world. In his recent accomplishment…
On different occasions, His Holiness Aram I stresses with great importance the imperative of reorganizing the Armenian Diaspora. Not long ago, during his message at the National General Assembly held in Antelias, and reflecting on his performance at the 6th Pan-Armenian Armenian-Diaspora conference held in Yerevan, His Holiness stated that only through collective efforts can…
Every Wednesday morning, the graduating class at the Armenian Theological Seminary attends 2 hours of theoretical theology and pastoral theology courses lectured by His Holiness Aram I. In fact, the Catholicos has been teaching theology at the Seminary since he was serving as Prelate in Lebanon. Ā Cilicia TV came across His Holiness leaving the…
On Monday morning, November 20th, 2018, His Holiness Aram I, accompanied by Bishop Shahe Sarkissian and V. Rev. Bedros Manuelian, visited the Apostolic Nuncio to Lebanon Arch. Joseph Spiteri at the Apostolic Nunciature in Harissa. The Catholicos expressed his thanks to Pope Francis for joining the 50th anniversary celebration of His Holiness’ ordination to priesthood…
On Monday, November 20th, the Armenian Ambassador to Lebanon Samuel Mkrtchyan paid a farewell visit to His Holiness Aram I. The Catholicos expressed his admiration for the Ambassador’s high level of diplomatic service in Lebanon, especially regarding his cooperation with the Lebanese Armenian community. Ā The meeting also was an opportunity to discuss Armenian-Diaspora relations.Ā
On November 18th, 2018, following the Divine Liturgy, Sunday Schools’ students, accompanied by their teachers and parents, met with His Holiness Aram I. The students had the opportunity to perform in front of His Holiness what they had learned at Sunday Schools. They sang hymns and recited prayers and the Catholicos was incredibly impressed…
On November 15th, playwright, poet, theater specialist, literary critic, director, and actor Dr. Hrant Markarian visited His Holiness Aram I in Antelias. Dr. Markarian had arrived in Lebanon from New York to perform his play on Khrimian Hayrig. At the meeting, His Holiness and Dr. Markarian, long-time friends, talked about Armenian culture, literature and theatre.
On Tuesday, November 13th, the newly elected committee of the Armenian Democratic Liberal Party visited His Holiness Aram I. The Catholicos congratulated the committee and wished them success in their service. The meeting was also an opportunity to discuss issues pertaining the current situation in Armenia, Lebanon and the Armenia-Diaspora cooperation. Ā Ā
On Monday, November 12th, His Holiness Aram I received the Central Committee Social Democrat Hunchakian Party composed of Prof. Hampig Sarafian, Alex Keoshkerian and Sebouh Kalpakian. During the meeting, they talked about the challenges that Armenia, the Church and the Armenian Diaspora face.
On Sunday, November 11th, 2018, following the Divine Liturgy, His Holiness Aram I inaugurated the 39th Annual Pan-Armenian Book Fair. The main theme of His Holinessā speech was the values that Armenian books represent for the Armenian people. He stated that any given life should be lived with ethical, moral, intellectual and aesthetic values,…
On November 8th, His Holiness Aram I received the newly elected committee members of the Armenian Church University Students’ Association, accompanied by their newly appointed spiritual advisor Fr. Hovagim Panjarjian. Fr. Hovagim took the opportunity first of all to express his filial gratitude to His Holiness and then presented the members and their future…
On November 8th, His Holiness Aram I received a delegation from the committee of the “Kaspar Ipegian” Theater Company of Hamazkayin accompanied by the “Vardan Adjemian” State Drama Theater of Gyumri (Armenia). The latter was invited to Lebanon by the Theater Company to perform three of their plays: “Wedding in the Rear” dedicated to theĀ April…
On November 8th, 2018, His Holiness Aram I receives the President of the Armenian General Benevolent Union Berge Setrakian. They talked about the situation in the Republic of Armenia, state-church relations and Armenia-Diaspora cooperation.Ā
On October 19th and 20th, 2018, a conference was held in Yerevan, Armenia, dedicated to the 175th anniversary of the Armenian scholarly journal Pazmaveb. The conference was organized by the Republic of Armenia’s Ministry of Diaspora, Armenian National Academy of Science and the Mekhitarists Congregation. Jirayr Tanielian, the director of the Educational-Armenological Center at the…
On November 6th, the newly appointed Iranian Ambassador to Lebanon Mohammad Jalal Firouznia visited His Holiness Aram I in Antelias. They discussed matters concerning cooperation between the Catholicosate of Cilicia and the Islamic Republic of Iran and talked about the situation in the Middle East. His Holiness also stressed the importance of strengthening the…
The AnglicanāOriental Orthodox International Commission held its seventh meeting from October 22nd till 26th, 2018, at the Syriac Orthodox Patriarchal Residence in Atchaneh, Lebanon. Ā Rev. Boghos Tinkjian and V. Rev. Zareh Sarkissian participated at the meeting representing the Catholicosate of Cilicia. Ā After noting the passing of and giving thanks to one of the…
On November 4th, 2018, His Holiness Aram I received the Armenian Catholic Patriarch Krikor Bedros XX Ghabroyan, accompanied by Bishop Kevork Assadourian, the Vicar General of the Armenian Catholic Patriarchate in Lebanon, Bishop Manuel Batakian and V. Rev. Sebouh Garabedian. Present at the meeting were also Archbishop Nareg Alemezian, the Prelate of the Diocese of…
During his official visit to Bern, His Holiness Aram I had official and non official meetings with different ecumenical patriarchs, spiritual and political leaders, as well as a luncheon was organized in his honor by the Old Catholic Church in Bern. His Holiness had the following meetings: A meeting, accompanied by His Holiness’…
On Sunday morning, October 28th, 2018, His Holiness Aram I attended the Divine Liturgy at St. Peter and Paul Cathedral of the Old Catholic Church in Bern, Switzerland, and delivered a sermon to the attendees. Bishop Dr. Harald Rein welcomed His Holiness and invited him to deliver his sermon. In the sermon, His Holiness concentrated…
On Saturday 27 October 2018, on the occasion of his official visit to the Old Catholic Church in Bern, Catholicos Aram I shared his views on the current challenges to the Ecumenical Movement. Ā The lecture followed the evening vespers, at which Reverend Bedros Manuelian and Friar Hovaguim Panjarjian participated. Ā Before addressing the current…
On October 26th, His Holiness Aram I was invited to the University of Bern to deliver a lecture at the Faculty of Theology on āChallenges for the Churches in the Middle East.ā Ā After introducing the multicultural and multi-religious aspects of the Middle East, His Holiness suggested having a holistic approach to the issues relating…
