(Interview donnĂ©e en septembre 2017, dont des extraits ont Ă©tĂ© diffusĂ©s dans le documentaire de lâĂ©mission ChrĂ©tiens Orientaux « Renaissance des ArmĂ©niens au Liban » diffusĂ© le 22.04.2018 sur France 2)  Thomas Wallut (ChrĂ©tiens Orientaux – France 2) : SaintetĂ©, cent trois ans aprĂšs le gĂ©nocide, quelle est la place du Liban dans le cĆur des armĂ©niens ?…
On May 10th, 2018, His Holiness Aram I received the newly elected Lebanese Armenian ministers: Hagop Pakradounian, Hagop Terzian and Alexander Mattosian, who form the Armenian Bloc. Â His Holiness congratulated the new ministers for their election and commended the formation of the Armenian Bloc, stressing that the Armenian Bloc would have been stronger…
On May 7th, 2018, the newly formed Ladies Auxiliary of the Armenian Theological Seminary, accompanied by the Dean of the Seminary V. Rev. Boghos Tinkjian, visited His Holiness Aram I in Antelias. Rev. Tinjian briefed His Holiness about the projects the Auxiliary has achieved thus far and stressed that their mission is to contribute…
On May 9th, His Holiness Aram I held a phone conversation with Pago Sahakian, the president of the Republic of Artsakh and congratulated him on the occasion of the 26th anniversary of the liberation of Shushi. His Holiness stated that the liberation of Shushi is a historical achievement, a source of joy and pride for…
On the occasion of the 300th anniversary of the establishment of Mekhitarist Congregation in Venice, a conference entitled âMekhitar and Mekhitarists; a Seminary for the Christian Enlightenmentâ was held in the Saint Lazarus Monastery in Venice, on May 4th to 6th, 2018. The conference was organized by Archbishop Levon Zekiyan, the Pontifical Delegate of Mekhitarist…
On May 8th, 2018, the newly appointed ambassador of Switzerland Monika Schmutz Kirgöz paid a visit to His Holiness Aram I, accompanied by Hassan Thuillard, diplomatic attachĂ©, and Berge Arabian, member of the Board of the Lebanese Businessmen Union. The meeting was an opportunity to discuss the current situation in the Middle East in…
A brief comment by H.H. Aram I What happened recently in Armenia was a first step in social transformation. In fact, the people rose against the widening gap between haves and have-nots, the growing corruption, and the dominance of injustice in all aspects and spheres of life in the country. Struggle for social injustice has…
On May 4th, 2018, His Holiness Aram I visited the Birdâs Nest Orphanage and the Armenian Genocide Orphansâ âAram Bezikianâ Museum in Byblos. Â At Birdâs Nest, His Holiness met with the administration and staff to discuss the continuing mission of the orphanage, whose legacy is not only rooted in its significant work in assembling…
On Monday, April 30th, representatives from the churches of Lebanon and of the M.E.C.C. met in the Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia. The special committee is tasked with organizing an international ecumenical youth gathering in 2019. Prior to the meeting, the committee members paid their respects to the martyrs of the Armenian Genocide, by laying…
On May 2nd, 2018, Dr. Jean Salmanian, member of the Ecumenical Relations Committee of the Catholicosate of Cilicia, participated in the Interreligious Dialogue Meeting, organized by the King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz International Center for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue (KAICIID), and held in Amman. The purpose of the meeting was to explore the possibility of…
On Wednesday evening, May 2nd, 2018, His Holiness Aram I and Nikol Pashinyan held a consultation on the phone aimed at finding a political consensus to bring Armenia out of the prevailing crisis. His Holiness saluted the peaceful popular movement in Armenia and praised Pashinyan for his efforts to overcome the crisis through constitutional…
On the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of His Holiness Aram I âs ordination into priesthood, on Sunday, April 29th, 2018, the Catholicosateâs âShnorhaliâ choir and the Armenian Thelogical Seminaryâs âArmashâ choir gave a joint concert in the âJirayr and Tsoline Nalbandianâ auditorium, at the Armenian United College. Â The director of both choirs, Monk…
On Friday, April 28th, His Holiness Aram I received Taner Akcam, Turkish historian and expert on the Armenian Genocide, who was accompanied by Ohannes Geukjian, Assistant Professor in the Political Science and Public Administration Department at the American University of Beirut. During the visit, Akcam offered His Holiness a copy of his latest publication…
Under the supervision of His Holiness Aram I and the Cilicia Museum committee, Eshgianâs USD 100 000 donation will serve to renovate and reorganize the museum. Established in 1996, the museum encompasses a historical account of the Catholicosate: religious, archeological and cultural artifacts, relics and rescued treasures from the district of Cilicia exhibit the odyssey…
Mr. and Mrs. Anushavan Nazarian from Kuwait donated USD 200 000 to the Armenian Theological Seminary for the purpose of building a library, which will be named after their children, Nouneh and Ninareh Nazarian.
On April 28th, 2018, a delegation from the Christian-Islamic Dialogue and Cooperation Commission of the Council Of Bishops of the catholic church of France visited Antelias and met with His Holiness Aram I. The commission’s aim was to learn about   interreligious cooperation in the Middle East in general and in Lebanon in particular, as well…
âTHE COMMEMORATION OF THE GENOCIDE IS RECOMMITMENT TO THE STRUGGLE FOR RECOGNITION AND REPARATIONâ HIS HOLINESS ARAM I 24 April is the day that Armenians all over the world commemorate the Genocide and demand that their stolen rights be restored. The 24th of April is the day to honour the life and legacy of the…
On the morning of April 23rd, 2018, His Holiness Aram I presided over a meeting of the Cilicia Brotherhood, in Antelias. His Holiness took the opportunity to discuss the current political situation unfolding in Armenia. His Holiness stressed that the church, the motherland and its people are one; therefore, the church cannot remain indifferent and…
On April 20th, 2018, upon his return from Armenia, His Holiness Aram I and Mr. Pago Sahakian, the president of the Republic of Artsakh held a phone conversation, initiated by Mr. Sahakian. They discussed the details of His Holinessâ aforementioned visit, focusing specifically on the recent events unfolding in Armenia.
On April 20th, 2018, His Holiness Aram I left for Armenia for a three-hour visit, where he first met with His Holiness Karekin II. Afterwards, the two Catholicoi met with the president of the Armenian Republic, Mr. Armen Sarkissian, and the Prime Minister, Mr. Serge Sarkissian. The meeting was an opportunity for the Catholicoi…
On Saturday, April 14th, 2018, the Cilicia Museum in Antelias and the Armenian Genocide Orphansâ âAram Bezikianâ Museum in Jbeil, participated in the âMuseums Night,â which was organized by the Ministry of Culture of Lebanon. More than 1000 people visited these two museums and toured in the footsteps of the Armenian heritage.
On April 14 and 15, 2018, Â the Armenian Church, Catholicosate of Cilicia witnessed the episcopal ordination and consecration of Very Rev. Masis Zoboyan (Prelacy of Kuwait), Very Rev. Sipan Ketchedjian (Prelacy of Isfahan), Very Rev. Mesrob Sarkissian (Pontifical Vicar for the United Arab Emirates) and Very Rev. Torkom Donoyan (Vicar General of the Western Prelacy).…
On April 12th and 13th , 2018, the Religious Council, the Lay Council and the Finance and Administration body of the Lay Council of the National General Assembly held their meetings respectively in Antelias, under the supervision and auspices of His Holiness Aram I. Archbishop Shahan Sarkissian was present at the Central Committee…
On Friday, April 13th, 2018, AGBU president Berge Setrakian visited Antelias and met with His Holiness Aram I. They discussed issues regarding Armenia and Armenia-Diaspora relations, and they both stressed the importance of strengthening the bond and cooperation of the latter through various projects. The AGBU president also shared with His Holiness current AGBU programs…
Invited by the co-chairmen, HE Metropolitan Emmanuel of France and HE Metropolitan Bishoy of Damiette, of the Joint International Theological Commission of the two families of the Orthodox Church and the Oriental Orthodox Churches, and with the presence, blessings and gracious hospitality of His Holiness Aram I, a working group met in Antelias on April…
On Tuesday, April 10, 2018, His Holiness Aram I received a delegation from the Governing Board members of the Conference of European Churches (CEC)- Rt Rev. Christopher Hill, President of the conference; Very Rev. Karin Burstrand and H.E. Metropolitan Emmanuel of France, Co-Vice-Presidents; as well as Fr. Heikki Huttunen, the General Secretary. Present at the meeting…
During their private meeting, Catholicos Aram I and Pope Francis discussed issues facing humanity, threats to the world, and the Christian response. His Holiness Aram I raised the following issues: A common Easter Date. The Catholicos noted that the Churches celebrate the Resurrection of Christ on different dates not because of a theological disagreement,…
During the period from 15 to 17 February 2018, His Holiness Aram I presided over the ecumenical conversations between the Old Catholic Church and the Catholicosate of Cilicia. The meeting was organised in response to the desire expressed by Bishop Harald Rein, Bishop of Switzerland. The representatives of the Old Catholic Communion included Bishop…
This is the text of the intervention of His Holiness Aram I on the first day of the International Conference in Support of Jerusalem, organized by Al-Azhar, Cairo, Egypt (17-18 January 2018). More than 300 high ranking religious, political and state dignitaries attended the conference. As a holy city for Jews, Christians, and Muslims,…
This view was the core of the intervention of His Holiness Aram I at the first session of the international conference on Jerusalem organized by Azhar in Cairo on Wednesday, January 17, 2018. After affirming that “the future status of Jerusalem must be an inseparable and integral part of the peace process,” His Holiness reminded…
This evening, 16 January, 2018, His Holiness Aram I left for Cairo, Egypt, to take part in an international conference on Jerusalem, organized by Al-Azhar, the center of Sunnit Muslim community. The purpose of the conference is to express solidarity in respect to Jerusalem as the capital of the State of Palestine. Â The conference…
His Holiness Aram I declared 2018 âthe year of Independenceâ on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the first Republic of Armenian. Â On Sunday, January 14th, during the Holy Liturgy at St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral in Antelias, as well as and in all Armenian Orthodox dioceses and parish churches under the jurisdiction…
On January 5, 2018, His Holiness Aram I received Vatican representative Bishop Ivan Santus, who delivered to His Holiness Pope Francisâ Christmas greetings. In the greeting letter, Pope Francis has mentioned his wellwishes to the Armenian people around the globe, the Armenian Church and the Holy See of Cilicia and has prayed for peaceful days.…
  âAS WARS, POLARIZATION IN POLITICS, AND MISERY OF THE PEOPLE GROW, THE MESSAGE OF BETHLEHEM REMINDS HUMANITY OF ITS VOCATION TO ESTABLISH PEACE WITH JUSTICE BASED ON MUTUAL RESPECTâ STATES HIS HOLINESS ARAM I   On Saturday morning, 6 January, His Holiness Aram I entered the Church in procession while the bells…
On January 3, 2018, His Holiness Aram I received Mr. Vahram Baghdasarian, Head of the Parliamentary group of the Republican Party of Armenia, and his family. During the meeting they discussed issues and challenges related to Armenia, Artsakh and Armenia-Diaspora relationship. Â
On Wednesday, December 6th, N.E.S.T. class “Contemporary Eastern Churches” visited the Catholicosate, led by their professor Dr. Rima Nasrallah van Saane. They started their visit with a detailed tour of the Cilicia Museum. Subsequently, they were greeted by V. Rev. Fr. Hrant Tahanian, Director of the Ecumenical Office, who offered a presentation on the…
On Friday, December 8, 2017, the World National General Assembly concluded its proceedings. After reading and voting on the resolutions of the Assembly and receiving suggestions for the coming 4 years, new members for Religious and Lay Councils of the Central Council were elected. In the closing remarks, His Holiness addressed the Assembly to…
On Monday, December 11, 2017, His Holiness Aram I paid a short visit to Cyprus and participated in an Armenian cultural event, during which he decorated the Cypriot president Nicos Anastasiades with âPrince of Ciliciaâ Medallion. His Holiness also met with Chrysostomos II, Archbishop of Cyprus. Â Receiving the medallion, President Anastasiades expressed his gratitude…
On Saturday, December 9, His Holiness Aram I received Bishop Munib Younan of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land. They discussed President Trumpâs recent declarations recognize Jerusalem as Israelâs capital. They stressed that Jerusalem belongs to the three monotheistic religions and it is part of peace process.
On the last day, World National General Assembly invited three speakers; Mr. Hagop Pakradouni (Lebanon), Mr. Mihran Kurdoghlian(Greece) and Mr. Daron Der Khatchadourian (USA), to discuss the current situation of Armenians in the Diaspora and the stakes of reorganizing the Diaspora. Â Mr. Pakradouni raised the question of âwhat is Armenian Diasporaâ and âwho is…
Throughout history, the Catholicosate of the Holy See of Cilicia has played a major role in pursuit of the Armenian Cause. A turning point for this mission is the lawsuit filed by the Catholicosate for the return of its historical Seat in Sis, now Kozan. The National General Assembly dedicated one session to give details…
The World General Assembly dedicated a portion of its meeting to discuss Armenian youth and its current status in the life of our church. His Holiness invited four individuals to represent the voice of the youth and offer suggestions to foster youth participation in our churches. Those youth who traveled to Antelias were: Carnie Armenian…
The World National General Assembly continued its meetings and deliberations, directing its focus to Christian and Armenian education. The Assembly welcomed voices of experts and guests that addressed the issues and challenges facing each subject, allowing the Assembly to offer its thoughts and suggestions. Christian and Armenian education is a top priority for the Catholicosate…
His Holiness Aram I, this morning both at the World General National Assembly of the Catholicosate, currently taking place in Antelias, and during his visit to the president of Lebanon H.E. General Michel Aoun, rejected the U.S. recognition of occupied Jerusalem as Israelâs capital. According to His Holiness, such a move may have negative repercussions…
The World National General Assembly of the Holy See of Cilicia dedicated 5 sessions of its meeting for the World National General Assemblyâs Religious and the Lay Councilsâ reports. Video presentations documenting the work of both Religious and Lay councils were presented, followed by examination and questions and answer sessions. Religious Report The report…
Antelias, Lebanon-  Under the presidency of His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Holy See of Cilicia, the World National General Assembly convened at the Armenian Catholicoate in Antelias, Lebanon with the participation of around 100 clergy, lay delegates, and invited guests representing the prelacies of the Holy See of Cilicia across the world. The assembly,…
Under the auspices of His Holiness Aram I, the 38th Pan-Armenian Book Fair was formally opened on Sunday, November 19, 2017, in Antelias. Â After welcoming remarks, His Holiness Aram I said that on this occasion he has written a poem dedicated to Armenian book entitled âLuys Desav,â meaning it came to life/is published; a…
On Friday, October 27, 2017, His Holiness Aram I arrived in Athens and was welcomed at the airport by an official reception, among them were the Prelate of Greece Arch. Kegham Khatcherian, the ambassador of Armenia in Greece H.E. Fadey Charchoghlyan, the Chairman of the Church Council mr. Boghos Cholakian, as well as state representatives,…
On October 24, 2017, His Holiness Aram I had a meeting with the new members of the Cilician Brotherhood Committee of Assembly, who are: Arch. Gomidas Ohanian (chairperson), Bishop Meghrig Parikian, V. Rev. Paren Vartanian, V. Rev. Bedros Manuelian and V. Rev. Nshan Lakhoyan (secretary) . Â After welcoming the new committee members, His Holiness…
On Sunday, October 15, 2017, His Holiness Aram I presided over the Holy Liturgy in the Catholicosate of the Holy See of Cilicia. The Holy Liturgy was celebrated by the Dean of the Armenian Theological Seminary Very Rev. Boghos Tinkjian and was dedicated to the feast of Holy Translators. Â Following the Divine Liturgy, the…
On October 12, 2017, His Holiness Aram I chaired the teachersâ meeting of the Armenian Theological Seminary in Bikfaya for the school year 2017-2018. After welcoming remarks, His Holiness stated that the Armenian Theological Seminary is more than an ordinary school; its mission includes not only preparing well-educated Armenians, but also future leaders, who eventually…
On October 2nd, 2017, His Holiness received in his residence in Antelias, Lebanon, Mr. Daniel Beyeler the Head of Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation of Swiss government. On his way to Damascus and Aleppo Mr. Daniel discussed with His Holiness plans and issues related to the humanitarian assistance of Swiss government to the communities…
Last night His Holiness Aram I received in his office Dr. Faisal Bin Muaammar together with a high-ranking delegation representing the King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz International Center for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue (KAICIID). The discussion between Catholicos Aram I and the General Secretary of KAICIID focused mainly on issues pertaining to the actual estate of…
The Middle East has been the birth place of three monotheistic religions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam. It has also been the homeland of so many cultures, ethnicities and civilizations. These diversities that have characterized the history of the region have often generated tensions, polarizations and conflicts. Religion sometime has been used for non-religious purposes. The…
His Holiness Aram I accepted the invitation by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece Mr. Nikolas Kotzias to attend the 2nd International Conference on âReligious and Cultural Pluralism and Peaceful Coexistence in the Middle East.â Bishop Kegham Khatcherian, the Prelate of Greece, and V. Rev. Mesrob Sarkissian, Pontifical Vicar for the United Arab Emirates…
HIS HOLINESS ARAM I Brussels. Addressing the conference on the Armenian Cause at the European Parliament in Brussels on Thursday 19 October 2017, His Holiness Aram I said, âthe Armenian Genocide is no longer an exclusive concern of Armenian-Turkish relations; this well-documented fact of history, the first genocide of the 20th Century, has…
This morning, His Holiness Aram I departs to Switzerland to have meetings regarding the French and the German translations of His new book: The Armenian Church. Â His Holiness is also invited by the Armenian National Committee of Europe, tomorrow, to visit Brussels, where He will address in the meeting dedicated to the Armenian Cause…
On October 12, 2017, His Holiness Aram I received the U.S. ambassador to Lebanon Elisabeth Richard. They discussed the actual situation in the Middle East in general and in Lebanon in particular, sharing their concerns and perspectives. They emphasized the necessity of seeking of peace with justice through mutual understanding and respect.
On October 12, 2017, His Holiness Aram I received the French ambassador to Lebanon Bruno Foucher. During the meeting, His Holiness introduced the newly appointed ambassador the mission and the vission of the Catholicosate of the Holy See of Cilicia. Â They shared their concerns and perspectives regarding the situation of the Middle East. His…
On October 6, 2017, the General secretary of the Protestant Church in the Netherlands, Dr. RenĂ© de Reuver, accompanied by the Program Officer, Mr Feiji Duim, and the Communication Advisor and Officer, Mr Rob van Ooijen, met with His Holiness Aram I.  The Catholicos and his two guests discussed the situation of the Christian…
Antelias â On April 2018, celebrations will begin with a Pan-Armenian Conference in Antelias, which will bring together historians, academics, community leaders, and government officials from Armenia, Artsakh and the Diaspora. The participants will analyse the historical circumstances that led the creation of the first independent republic of Armenia on 28 May 1918. They will…
On October 1, 2017, the newly elected committee of ACUSA, accompanied by their spiritual advisor Rev. Tatoul Kardanakian, met with His Holiness Aram I to ask for his blessings. Welcoming the new members of the committee, His Holiness congratulated ACUSA for their efforts to assemble the Armenian university students around the churchâs structure and spirituality.…
On 30 September, 2017, His Holiness Aram I met with Dr Gerges Saleh, the ecumenical representative of the Coptic Orthodox Church and former General Secretary of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC). Dr Saleh, representing His Holiness Tawadros II, and the Catholicos discussed the MECC and ecumenical and inter-religious issues related to the churches…
His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, stressed the importance of âconfidenceâ as one of the three key phrases in the theme of the Sixth Armenia-Diaspora Pan-Armenian Conference, âMutual Confidence, Unity, and Responsibility.â âIndeed, any type of cooperation in which confidence is lacking becomes false and harmful,â Aram I…
Ecumenism remains a vital dimension of the life and mission of the Armenia Church. His Holiness Aram I, not only has assumed an important place in the ecumenical leadership, he continues to promote ecumenical values and commitment in his own church. He firmly believes that the ecumenical movement is no more an option, but a…
Mrs. Carla Khijoyan was appointed as of 1st of September as the Programme Executive for the Middle East at the World Council of Churches. Her main responsibilities reside in ensuring ecumenical and interfaith relations in the Middle East, planning, monitoring and coordinating the programmatic work of the WCC in the region, as well as responding…
During his brief stay in Geneva, His Holiness Aram I paid a visit to the Ecumenical Institute of Bossey and met with the director of the institute Dr. Ioan Sauca, who briefed His Holiness about the new programs and projects of the Institute and discussed the possibilities of welcoming new students from the Armenian Orthodox…
7 September 2017. His Holiness Aram I met with UN special envoy for Syria Steffan de Mistura in The Palais des Nations, the main building of the United Nations Office at Geneva. Also present in the meeting were Prof. Teny Pirri-Simonian, president of the Swiss Armenian Foundation: ARMENOFAS and Rev. Bedros Manuelian, the head of Information and Communication department at the Catholicosate of Holy…
6 September 2017. On Wednesday, His Holiness Aram I met with the deputy foreign minister and director of MENA department at the Swiss Ministry of Foreign Affairs Wolfgang Amadeus Bruelhart in Geneva. Also present in the meeting were Mr. Antoine Laham, assistant to Steffan de Mistura, Prof. Teny Pirri-Simonian, president of the Swiss Armenian Foundation: ARMENOFAS and Rev. Bedros Manuelian, the…
23 August 2017. His Holiness Aram I visited the Summer Bible Camp for Youth, which was held in the village of Anjar, 21-27 August. This new initiative was organized by the Christian Education Department of the Armenian Orthodox Church of the Holy See of Cilicia. Upon his arrival, His Holiness was received by the youth…
On August 21, 2017, in the name of His Holiness Aram I, Rev. Bedros Manuelian, the head of the Information and Communication Department, and Staff Bearer Monk, Ardavazt Sharoyan, visited the injured soldiers of the Lebanese Army, who were wounded in the battle against ISIS. Among the injured was the Lebanese Armenian, Sebouh Giragossian. The…
On the morning of August 21, 2017, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I received two representatives of Mr Berri at St. Maryâs monastery in Bikfaya. The delegation extended an official invitation to His Holiness to attend the commemoration of the disappearance of Imam Musa al-Sadr. Dr. Jean Salmanian, representative of the Armenian community in the Christian-Muslim…
U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on August 15 presented the State Department’s annual report on international religious freedom. Referring to the properties seized from the religious minorities by the Turkish government in previous decades, the report says that the country failed to return them to the owners. In particular, it pointed out that the…
On Friday, at St Maryâs Monastery in Bikfaya, His Holiness Aram I met with two members of the legal team, barrister Cem Sofuoglu and Dr Nora Bayrakdarian, to assess the current political situation in Turkey and identify strategic alternatives regarding the lawsuit demanding the return of the historical seat of the Catholicosate in Kozan.…
27 July 2017. On Thursday evening, His Holiness Aram I honoured Armenian youth who have recently graduated from universities in Lebanon with a dinner at St Maryâs Monastery in Bikfaya. Â The Armenian Church University Students Association (ACUSA), and the Assembly of University Graduates, both of which are sponsored by the Catholicosate of Cilicia,…
Antelias. 27 July 2017. On Thursday morning, His Holiness Aram I received Archbishop Kegham Khatcherian, the Prelate, and Mr Boghos Cholakian, the Chairman of the Church Council, in this office at St Maryâs Monastery. During the working session they discussed the forthcoming programmes and priorities of the Diocese. Catholicos Aram I urged the leaders to…
20 July 2017. On Thursday morning, His Holiness Aram I met the students attending the Summer Bible School on the courtyard of the Catholicosate at Antelias. He explained the purpose of the Bible School and spoke to the students of the need to learn how to apply the spiritual and moral values of the Church…
21 July 2017. During the past week, His Holiness Aram I was interviewed on three interviews separate occasions by the Coptic Orthodox Church Egyptian Television Channel. The Catholicos was asked to speak about the Armenian Orthodox Church, ecumenical relations and the Armenian Genocide.
Archbishop Sebouh Sarkissian, Prelate of Tehran and member of the Executive Committee of CCA, attended the anniversary conference entitled: âTowards Revitalizing the Ecumenical Movement in Asia.â During the deliberative sessions, Archbishop Sebouh moderated the session entitled âThe Ecumenical Movement, and Threats to Religious Freedom.â After a brief introduction, he invited the speakers to share their…
12 July 2017. On the second day of the event, the consultation began with a presentation on and discussion of âidentity and genocide; recognition and reparation.â The panel members were: Hovsep Der Kevorkian (France), Sevak Hagopian (Lebanon) and Moushegh Bedirian (UAE). The speakers referred to diverse perceptions of Armenian identity between Armenia, the pluralist diaspora…
11-13 July 2017. The meeting began on Tuesday with the participation of Mrs Heranoush Hagopian, Minister of Diaspora of the Republic of Armenia, and over 30 scholars from Armenia and the diaspora, representing different disciplines, countries, ages and gender. Â His Holiness Aram I opened the meeting with the Lordâs Prayer and invited the diaspora…
His Holiness Aram I is bringing together a small group of men and women to analyse and discuss the changing landscape of Armenian communities in the diaspora. The participants represent different ages, experience and academic backgrounds. Â Sharing his concern, His Holiness stated, âWe cannot remain indifferent towards the challenges to our people in…
Armenian martyrs have received significant attention in the recent publication, The Martyrs of the Eastern Christian Churches, edited by the Alumni Association of the Maronite Seminary in Lebanon. The book, which runs more than a thousand pages, was published by the American University of Science and Technology. During the planning stage, the team had met…
20 June 2017. On Tuesday morning his Holiness Aram I received Mr Antoine Laham, Assistant to Steffan de Mistura, the Special Envoy for Syria, at St Maryâs Monastery in Bikfaya. Mr Laham was visiting the region and had come to meet with His Holiness Aram I and continue the consultation between Steffan de Mistura and…
18 June 2017. On Sunday evening, His Holiness Aram I presided over the 87th Commencement, which also marked also the 65th Anniversary of the construction of St. Maryâs Church. Clergy, the faculty of the seminary, representatives of the community organizations and the public gathered at the courtyard of the church to celebrate the two events.…
14 June 2017. On Wednesday morning President Nicos Anastasiades of Cyprus, accompanied by the Ministers of Foreign and Internal Affairs, the Minister of Tourism, and other staff, visited the Catholicosate of Cilicia and were received by His Holiness Aram I at the Main Hall of the Catholicosate. Also in attendance were members of the…
13 June 2017. On Tuesday, 200 women were recognized for completing a course, compromising Bible studies, Church history and traditions, prayers and hymns, offered by the Christian Education Department of the Catholicosate of Cilicia. The course was initiated by Catholicos Aram I and adopted by the dioceses as well. Â His Holiness Aram I…
10 June 2017. On Saturday, during the evening service, Archbishop Shahan Sarkissian, prelate of Peria (Syria), began the first step in the ordination of two deacons. Rev Bedros Manuellian acted as witness on behalf the community. Deacons Hrair Daghlian and Movses Khatchadourian, moved to the Altar on their knees, anathematized the heretics, accepted to abide…
12 June 2017. On Monday morning, His Holiness Aram I met in his office with Attorney Joseph Ganimian, president of the Executive Council of the Western Diocese of North America and a member of the Spiritual Council of the Holy See Etchmiadzin. Dr Avedis Dakessian, president of the Lebanese Chapter of The Armenian Democratic Liberal Party,…
9 June 2017. On Friday evening, Catholicos Aram I met with Sami Gemayel, leader of the Lebanese Phalange Party, at St. Maryâs Monastery in Bikfaya. Their discussion focussed mainly on political issues concerning Lebanon.
The leadership of the Bible Society of the Middle East invited His Holiness Aram I to address its annual meeting held in Beirut, in recognition of the Catholicosateâs project to publish a new translation of the Bible in Armenian. Rev Boghos Tinkdjian, Director of the Seminary, attended on behalf of the Catholicosate of Cilicia, read…
In a letter addressed to President Hassan Rohani, His Holiness Aram I condemned the recent attacks on the parliament building and the mausoleum of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khmeini, and described them as âas an evil that aims at destroying all moral, spiritual and ethical values of mutual respect and trust.â The Catholicos wrote that ânations, governments…
06 June 2017. On Thursday morning, Mr Zaven Khanjian, who is also the former Chairperson of the California Chapter of the United Diaspora Relief Committee for Armenians in Syria, met with His Holiness Aram I in Antelias. They discussed Armenia-diaspora relations and the situation in the Middle East. His Holiness explained a recently developed…
4 June 2017. On Sunday Pentecost, His Holiness Aram I presided over the Holy Liturgy, during which 10 students of the Seminary were raised to the rank of Choristors and three were ordained as Subdeacons. The Catholicos read the psalmistâs proclamation, âHow lovely are Your dwelling places, O Lord of hosts! My soul longed and even yearned for the…
3 June 2017. On Saturday morning, His Holiness Aram I received a group representing different departments of the University of Southern California. The group, which is participating in a study trip to the Middle East to learn about the region and issues related to the Christian presence, interviewed the Catholicos and asked him questions…
29 May 2017. On Tuesday morning, the Honorable Christina Rafti, the Ambassador of Cyprus to Lebanon, accompanied by the political counsellor of the embassy, met with His Holiness in his office. They discussed relations between Lebanon and the Cyprus, and the on-going peace talks in Cyprus. They also discussed the plans for the proposed visit…
28 May 2017. Sunday, on the eve of the 100th anniversary celebrations of the independence of the Republic of Armenia, His Holiness Aram I presided over the Holy Liturgy at the St Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral. During the Liturgy, prayers of âthanksgivingâ were offered for the Republic of Armenia and a Memorial Service was…
During his visit to Kuwait, His Holiness met representatives from community organizations; also attending was the prelate, Very Reverend Massis Choboyan. The Catholicos met with members of the Executive Council of the Church, the School Board and the leadership of social and cultural organizations and associations. Discussions focussed on goals, programmes and concerns. Aram…
On Thursday 25 May 2017, His Holiness Aram I inaugurated an exhibition of the paintings of Ms Nanar Kurumlyian-Hajian at the âCilicia Hallâ. The event was organized by the Christian Education Department of the Catholicosate of Cilicia, to celebrate the 70th birthday of the Catholicos. Representing the department, Mrs Janine Tanielian, a member of the…
