31 March 2014. On Monday the morning His Holiness Aram I accompanied by the Prelates of the Dioceses of Lebanon, Syria and Tehran, visited Patriarch-elect Mor Cyril Aphrem Karim at the Atchaneh Monastery in Lebanon. During their conversation they discussed the centuries-old relationship between the two churches and the urgency of continuing to work…
29 March 2014. On Saturday morning, Cardinal Kurt Koch, accompanied by his staff and the Apostolic Nuncio to Lebanon Gabriele Giordano Caccia, visited His Holiness Aram I. Archbishop Nareg Alemezian, the Ecumenical Officer of the Catholicosate, was also present at the meeting. The Cardinal and His Holiness covered a wide range of issues, starting…
28 March, 2014. On Friday evening Derek Plumbly, the UN SpecialĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Coordinator for Lebanon, met with Catholicos Aram I to follow up a telephone conversation the Catholicos had had earlier with Under-Secretary Jeffrey Feltman regarding Kessab. His Holiness briefed Mr Plumbly of the historical importance of Kessab for Armenians and the necessity of securing…
27 March 2014. On Thursday evening, Jeffrey Feltman, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, called His Holiness Aram I from New York asking for his assessment of the situation in Kessab. Mr Feltman told the Catholicos that the UN was extremely concerned about the security situation in Kessab. He also told His Holiness that he…
27 March 2014. On Thursday morning the delegation, accompanied by the Ambassador of Armenia to Lebanon and his staff, met with Catholicos Aram I. They informed him of the results of their fact-finding visits, which have included the displaced Armenians in Latakia and the President of Syria. His Holiness Aram I briefed them on…
After consulting with the emergency committees working in the city of Latakia and the reports of the clergy travelling to Kessab and all other Kessab-related bodies, Catholicos Aram I calls upon Armenians everywhere to: Move from expressions of solidarity to action by responding to the needs of the population ofĀ Kessab currently sheltered in Latakia,…
26 March 2014. Yesterday evening, His Holiness Aram I received His Holiness Pope Tawadros II who was accompanied by a delegation of Bishops and laity. Catholicos Aram I and the clergy accompanied the delegation to the Cathedral for Canonical prayers. After prayers they met at the Main Hall of the Residence of the Catholicos where…
26 March 2014. On Wednesday Catholicos Aram I, accompanied by clergy and the seminary students, attended the Lenten Sunrise Service (Arevakal) at the St. Nishan Church in Beirut upon the invitation of the Prelate and the Church Council. After giving thanks for the invitation, Catholicos Aram I addressed the faithful, quoting the Biblical text…
Following the assault on Kessab during the weekend, the Executive Committee of the Catholicosate held an extraordinary meeting and moved to help the displaced Armenian population of Kessab and called upon all Armenians to them at this tragic time. At the conclusion of the meeting, His Holiness Aram I announced that all Armenians whether…
24 March 2014 – On Monday President Serge Sarkissian called Catholicos Aram I asking for information about the bombing and militia attacks from Turkey on Friday and Saturday on the Armenian town of Kessab and its surrounding villages. The President promised the Catholicos to appeal to all political entities in order to protect the…
On Friday, 21 March, early in the morning, His Holiness Aram I was informed of the assault and bombardment of the radical rebel forces from Turkey on Kessab, the historical Armenian region near the Turkish border. After consultation with the Armenian clergy and community leaders in Latakia, Aleppo, Damascus and Lebanon, the Catholicos demanded that…
21 March 2014. Upon receiving the news of the passing of Patriarch Zakka I Iwas, His Holiness Aram I called Archbishop George Saliba, Secretary of the Holy Synod. Ā After presenting his condolences, Catholicos Aram I expressed his hope that the historical ties between the two churches, rekindled by the late Patriarch, would continue.
20 March 2014. On Thursday evening the presentation of the āCommemorative Publicationā was held at the Cilicia Museum Hall. The event was organizated by the committee of the Hask Quarterly, a publication of the Catholicosate and the Seminary. Rev. Shenohk Ashekian welcomed everyone and referred to the celebration of this āCommemorative Publicationā as the…
On Monday Dr. Razmig Panossian, the Director of the Armenian Division of the Foundation met with His Holiness and presented the proposed five-year plan of the Foundation. Catholicos Aram I praised the overall goal of sustaining Armenian culture and the Western Armenian language. He also welcomed the proposed support to Armenian schools and scholarships…
On Sunday 16 March 2014, after the Holy Liturgy, Catholicos Aram I inaugurated the 35th Book Fair entitled āSource of Spiritual and Intellectual Enrichment.ā In his message, His Holiness stated that although the current innovations in communication and the Internet are providing quick information and knowledge, the Armenian book is the powerful repository of…
14 March 2014. On the occasion of 2014, the Year of the Elderly, instituted by Catholicos Aram I, one hundred elderly people visited Antelias. They first attended the Lenten Sunrise service (Arevakal) at St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral and then met with His Holiness Aram I. After welcoming them, His Holiness said, āAfter the tragic…
On Thursday 13 March 2014, His Holiness Aram I received Minister Abou Faour, accompanied by Hagop Pakradouni Member of Parliament and Ziad Chaya, Director of the Office of the Ministry. After discussing the situation in Lebanon, particularly the difficulties of the newly appointed government, Catholicos Aram I asked the minister, within the framework of…
10 March 2014. On Monday, a group of young artists from Artzakh, accompanied by the Vice-Minister for Culture and Youth and representatives of the Lebanon Artzakh fund, met with His Holiness Aram I. The group had come to take part in the programme of the Artzakh Cultural Week organized by the Fund in Lebanon. …
On Saturday March 1, 2014, in the evening, following the 40th anniversary concert of the Shenorhali Choir, His Holiness Aram I decorated Mr. and Mrs Hagop Chilinguirian with the St. Mesrob Mashdotz insignia. In his message, Catholicos Aram I recognized Mr and Mrs Chilinguirianās service to the community through the many committees on which he…
During January and February 2014, Rt. Rev. Paren Vartanian represented the Ecumenical Relations Office of the Catholicosate in the preparatory meeting towards a major event in May 2014 to discuss āChristians in the Middle East. On 23 January 2014, Rt. Rev. Vartanian also participated in the meeting of the Bible Society Committee for Lebanon…
OnĀ 27 February 2014, on the Feast of the Vartanantz Heroes, Catholicos Aram I referred to the writings of the historian YeghishĆ©, and reminded the faithful that āOur heroes of the Vartanantz war sacrificed their lives to defend our one faith, homeland and rights as a Nation.ā He continued, āWe are called to face our common…
On Tuesday 24 February 2014, Ambassador Hilary Childs-Adams, accompanied by the Trade and Economic Affairs AttachĆ© of the Embassy Jean-Philippe Tashjian, visited Catholicos Aram I. His Holiness described the history of the Catholicosate and its mission in the Diaspora, the contribution of the Armenian community to the politics of peaceful coexistence in Lebanon and…
23 February 2014, following the Holy Liturgy and the Memorial Service, the clergy and the faithful gathered at the Main Hall of the Catholicosate where His Holiness Aram I honored the committed educator and man of letters, Zaven Missirlian. Mr. Jirair Tanielian traced the life of Zaven Missirlian and described him as a dedicated teacher…
On Sunday 23 February 2014, His Holiness Aram I presided over the Holy Liturgy and the Memorial Service celebrating the lives of the departed Catholicoi and clergy and offered prayers for the victims of the Sumgait massacre (1988).Ā In his sermon, the priest who celebrated the liturgy spoke of the lives of the departed catholicoi…
On Sunday 23 February 2014, in the evening a special ceremony was organized to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of Melkon and Haik Arslanian Djemaran (College) of the Armenian Educational and Cultural Association (Hamazkayin). Mr. Dikran Jinbashian, the current director, opened the evening. He recounted the history of Djemaran, which opened its doors 83 years ago,…
On Friday 14 February 2014, representatives of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) from Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom met with His Holiness Aram I. These NGOās are engaged in humanitarian work in Syria and are particularly concerned with the presence of Christians in the region. Prior to travelling to the region, they met…
Friday 14 February 2014. On Thursday evening, a large number of parents with their children gathered at the to St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral to attend the evening service prior to the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple. His Holiness Aram I presided over the ceremony and preached. After recounting the story…
The newly appointed Executive Committee of the World Council of Churches met at the Ecumenical Institute Bossey, 7-12 February 2014. The main agenda was to study the decisions and recommendations of the 10th Assembly held in Busan (South Korea).Ā Archbishop Nareg Alemezian as a member of the Executive committee and its Programme Executive committee Committee…
HASK – January 2014 read here
11 February 2014. On Monday, around the meeting of the Executive Committee of the World Council of Churches held in Geneva, Archbishop Nareg Alemezian member of the Executive Committee and Ms. Teny Pirri-Simonian, member of the Central Committee, met with the Moderator Dr. Agnes Abuom and General Secretary Rev. Olav Fykse Tveit to discuss the…
10 February 2014. In a letter to the Federal Counselor of the Department of Justice and Police, Simonetta Sammaruga, His Holiness Aram I shared the indignation of Armenians with the decision of the European Court of Human Rights on the PerenƧik case condemning Switzerland. The Catholicos wrote,ā legitimization of negationism of the Armenian Genocide by…
On Friday 7 February 2014, His Holiness Aram I met with the Swiss Ambassador to Lebanon Her Excellency Ruth Flint. During the meeting, the Catholicos expressed his indignation at the decision of the ECHR on the PerinƧek case of December 2013. His Holiness stated that this ruling not only questions the truth of the Armenian…
2 February 2014. The Joint international commission met in Pampakuda Kerala, India upon the invitation of H.H. Basilius Mar Paulose II, Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church. The Armenian Orthodox Church was represented by Bp. Hovaguim Manoukian and Rev. ShahĆ© Ananian (Holy See Etchmiadzin) and Archbishop Nareg Alemezian (Holy See Cilicia).Ā Archbishop Nareg Alemezian and Cardinal Kurt…
27 -29 January 2013. The members of the Commission first met with His Holiness Aram I who gave them his blessings and thanked them for their work. The membership includes representatives appointed by His Holiness Karekin II of Holy Etchmiadzin and His Holiness Aram I of the Holy See of Cilicia. The Commission began its…
29-30 January 2014. The members of the Commission jointly appointed by Holinesses Karekin II and Aram I met to study the recommendations and comments of the last Bishops Conference and finalize the draft on the Canon of Baptismal Rite. Under the leadership of the Co-moderators, Archbishop Komitas Mehanian (Cilicia) and Bishop Arshak Khatchadurian, (Etchmiadzin), the…
The Director of the Ministry of Environment Dr. Berj Hadjian met with Catholicos Aram I and briefed him on the activities of the Ministry to protect the environment. He then proposed to the Catholicos to plant trees around all Armenian institutions in the country as part of their āgreening the cityā policy. His Holiness also…
On 26 January 2014, Ashot Kotcharian, the Ambassador of Armenia to Lebanon, met with His Holiness Aram I. The focus of their conversation was the 100th anniversary commemoration of the Armenian Genocide and how to further strengthen Armenia-Diaspora relations. The Catholicos also explained the purpose of the meeting the week before on Christian presence in…
On Monday 27th January, His Holiness Aram I gave a lecture on “The challenges facing the ecumenical movement” at the Near East School of Theology. Hereunder the outline of the lecture.- PART I A) What are the challenges of the Ecumenical movement?…Ā Ecumenism is essential for “being church”: 1) it reminds the interrelatedness of churches;…
25 January 2014. Following the meeting of the Council of Religion, the Council of Laity met under the Presidency of His Holiness Aram I. The members reviewed the programmes and budgets proposed by the General Assembly and approved the following priorities for 2014: Construction projects, preparatory activities for the 100th anniversary commemoration of the Genocide,…
On Thursday 23 January, Catholicos Aram I presided over the one-day meeting of the Council of Religion. The Council consists of 13 clergy including Diocesan Bishops. The Council met for the first time since the last National Assembly of the Catholicosate and its task was to study the recommendations and plan for their implementation. The…
20 January 2014. During the Ecumenical and International Consultation on Syria organized by the World Council of Churches (WCC) 15-17 January in Geneva, participants also discussed the problem of emigration of Christians from the Middle East. His Holiness Aram I shared his concern by reminding the participants that the conflicts and consequent violence of…
15-17 January 2014, Catholicos Aram I took part in the consultation held at the WCC in Geneva Switzerland. The participants included religious leaders from Syria and the Middle East Council of Churches, representatives from churches from countries of the Action Group for Geneva I, and other international ecumenical organizations.Ā The General Secretary of the WCC,…
Upon the arrival of Catholicos Aram I in Geneva, the General Secretary of the World Council of Churches, Rev. Dr. Olav Fykse Tveit and the staff responsible for the Middle East, met with His Holiness at his hotel to discuss the agenda of the WCC Ecumenical and international meeting on Syria, the contribution of His…
On 16 January 2014, Rev. Dr. Gottfried Locher, President of the Federation of Swiss Protestant Churches (FEPS), and Rev. Serge Fornerod, Director of International and Ecumenical Relations of FEPS, met with His Holiness Aram I in Geneva. Archbishop Sebouh Sarkissian and Ms. Teny Simonian, President of ARMENOFAS, the Swiss-Armenian Foundation, were also present. His Holiness…
According to the established tradition, religious and political officials, as well as representatives of civil society and interreligious associations visit Antelias to express their good wishes to Catholicos Aram I and the Armenian community. The visit this year was also an opportunity for the leaders to discuss with His Holiness the situation in Lebanon, specifically…
HASK – November – December 2013 read hereĀ https://www.armenianorthodoxchurch.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/NOVEMBER-_-DECEMBER-2013.pdfĀ
On Monday 6 January His Holiness Aram I celebrated the Holy Liturgy and gave his Christmas message to the faithful at St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral. His Holiness stressed the theme of peace, following the message of Jesus the Prince of Peace in his parables and his blessing of the peacemakers. The Catholicos remarked that…
On the eve of the New Year, Mr. and Mrs. Hagop Chiliguirian donated US $ 200,000 in appreciation for the witness and outreach of the Catholicosate of Cilicia to the community. In consultation with His Holiness Aram I, the couple allocated US $ 100,000 as seed money for the Shenorhali Choir Trust Fund, and another…
On the eve of the New Year and Christmas feasts, Catholicos Aram I confirmed the appointments of Rt. Rev. Masis Choboyan (born 1975 and ordained 1997) as the Vicar in Kuwait and Rev. Mesrob Sarkissian (born 1983 and ordained 2006) as the Vicar of the United Arab Emirates.
LIVE TELEVISION BROADCAST OF CHRISTMAS MASS VIA SATELLITE FROM ANTELIAS – JANUARY 6TH, 2014 The Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation International (LBCI) will broadcast LIVE via satellite the Christmas Mass presided over by His Holiness Aram I, from St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral in Antelias, on Monday 6 January 2014, beginning from 8:00 am UTC (GMT). For…
1.- Meeting with the children at the Birds Nest Orphanage/School in Byblos Ā Ā On Monday 23 December 2013, Catholicos Aram I, accompanied by members of the clergy, visited the Birds Nest. The sisters of the Kayanian Order, the members of the Board, the director, faculty and staff, greeted the Catholicos. After watching a special programme,…
Thursday, 19 December 2013. Mr. Serop Ohanian, the director of the Howard Karagueuzian Foundation for the Middle East, met with His Holiness Aram I. The director briefed the Catholicos on the foundationās humanitarian work with 1350 Armenian families from Syria who are currently registered at their Centre in Beirut. His Holiness Aram I thanked Mr.…
On Wednesday 18 December 2013 The Committee of ACUSA, Rev. Nechan Lakhoyan, the spiritual advisor to the committee, and his predecessor, Rev. Ghevont Pentezian, met with His Holiness Aram I.Ā After expressing his appreciation for all the events organized around the 50th Anniversary celebrations of the Association, Catholicos Aram I invited the committee to assess…
On Wednesday 18 December 2013. Dr. George Sabra, the President of NEST, and his class visited the Catholicosate of Cilicia in order to learn about the Armenian Church. The group included students form Lebanon, Syria, Europe, Canada and the United States of America. Archbishop Nareg Alemezian welcomed the students and lectured on the theology, ecclesiology…
On Tuesday 17 December 2013, Leila Riyad Solh, accompanied by the Director of the Foundation Walid Bin Talal and Armenian Member of Parliament Hagop Pakradouni, met with His Holiness Aram I. After Catholicos Aram Iās welcome, Vice President Mrs Leila Riyad Solh discussed the educational and humanitarian activities of the Foundation in Lebanon. His Holiness…
In the name of the Catholicosate of Cilicia and in his own name, His Holiness Aram I sent a letter of condolence to H.E. Serge Sarkissian upon the passing of his father Azad Avedisi Sarkissian. His Holiness concluded his letter with his prayers, asking the guidance of the Holy Spirit in comforting the Sarkissian Family.
On Monday 16 December 2013, the President of the AEBU, Aram Malian, and committee members met with His Holiness Aram I to thank him for his presence at a dinner celebrating the 90th anniversary of Sahakian-Meguerditchian College. Parliamentarian Sebouh Kalpakian accompanied the delegation. As always, such visits provide the opportunity for the guests and His…
A round table presented by the Armenian Church University Students Association (ACUSA) Alumni. On Friday 13 December 2013, His Holiness Aram I presided over a round table at the Cilicia Museum of the Catholicosate to discuss the problems, concerns and challenges facing the Armenian family today. The event was organized by the ACUSA Alumni. The…
On Tuesday, 10 December, Johnny Ibrahim the Consul General of Lebanon in Los Angeles met with His Holiness Aram I. The Consul informed Catholicos of the cooperation between his office and the Armenian community in Los Angeles. His Holiness thanked him for the cooperation and attention of the Consulate towards the ArmenianĀ community and recommended…
On Sunday 8 December 2013, following the Holy Liturgy, His Holiness Aram I presided over a Requiem Service at St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral in Antelias in memory of the victims of the Earthquake in Spitak, Armenia. Catholicos Aram I had also asked Prelates of all the Dioceses of the Holy See of Cilicia to…
OnĀ FridayĀ 6 December 2013, the ACUSA members residing in Lebanon celebrated the 50th Anniversary of the Association at Hotel Royal in Beirut. ACUSA, which was founded in 1963 by the Very Rev. Karekin Sarkissian (later Catholicos) and a group of motivated university students, has been blessed with consistent support down through the years by the late…
The President, General Secretary And Member Churches of the South Africa Council of Churches Ā āNelson Mandela will remain the great architect of the Rainbow NationāĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Aram I Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, The passing of Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela has left the people of South Africa fatherless and world without a…
On Friday 6 December 2013, Nicolas Sahnawi, Lebanonās Minister of Telecommunications visited His Holiness Aram I. During the visit, His Holiness spoke of the Genocide and explained the meaning of the monument erected in 1965 commemorating its 50th anniversary. Catholicos Aram I then expressed his gratitude to the people of Lebanon for their solidarity at…
On Wednesday 4 December 2013, His Holiness Aram I met with His Beatitude John X Yazigi in Balamand (Lebanon). The two spiritual leaders discussed issues related to the two Churches, the situation of their communities in Syria and the status of the two kidnapped Archbishops. They then focused on two recent and urgent issues: the…
On Monday 2 December 2013, Vartan Melkonian visited His Holiness Aram I and handed over 100 pictures from the archives of the early years of the Birdās Nest. The pictures were a gift from the K.M.A. Danish Missionaries who established the Birdās Nest to house the orphans they had brought from Turkey. Vartan Melkonian and…
On Sunday December 1 2013, Mr. Hrant Markarian the President, accompanied by members of the bureau, met with His Holiness Aram I. They discussed Armenia-Diaspora relations and the activities planned to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.
On Saturday 30 November 2013, at Gregory of Nareg Hall of the Bishops compound in Antelias, Reverends Housig Mardirossian and Magar Ashkarian presented their theses to His Holiness Aram I and defended them in the presence of the members of the brotherhood. Rev. Housig analyzed the correspondence of Patriarch Sahak II during the period 1914…
During the year 1915-1916, about 1.5 million Armenians were massacred and thousands more were displaced or deported from the Ottoman Empire in present-day Turkey. The āArmenian Diasporaā today, scattered in different parts of the world, represents the greatest effect of the genocide as more than eight million Armenians now live outside Armenia. Even after almost…
Dear participants to the 10th Assembly of the World Council of Churches, We greet you warmly from the Catholicosate of Cilicia as you are convened in Busan for the 10th Assembly of the World Council of Churches. The 10th Assembly is an important landmark, a time to harvest the fruits of more than…
HASK – October 2013 read here https://www.armenianorthodoxchurch.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/OCTOBER-2013.pdf
Watch an interview in Arabic with His Holiness Aram I on the Armenian Genocide on Al-Mayadeen TV, this Sunday at 9 pm Beirut time (UTC/GMT 7 pm). First rerun on Monday 28 October at 2 pm Beirut time (UTC/GMT 12 noon) Second rerun on Tuesday 29 October atĀ 9 pm Beirut time (UTC/GMT 7 pm)…
On Thursday 24 November 2013, His Holiness Aram I received a delegation representing the Publishing Houses in Armenia accompanied by the Director of the office of the Ministry of Culture of Armenia. The head of the VahĆ© Setian Printing House in Lebanon was also present at the meeting. Catholicos Aram I thanked the guests…
Read the interview here https://www.armenianorthodoxchurch.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/interview.pdf
The Catholicosate of Cilicia Continues Publishing the History of Pre-Genocide Armenian Populated Towns in Turkey Volume 4 History of Ayntab Appears Ā On the eve of the 100th anniversary of the commemoration of the Armenian Genocide, His Holiness Aram I is supervising the publication of a series of history books, each devoted to a town…
On Monday 22 October 2013, Ambassador David Hale met with His Holiness Aram I in Antelias. Their conversation focused on the situation in Lebanon and the Syria Crisis. Catholicos Aram I informed the Ambassador of the problems and difficulties of Christians in the region, and shared his concerns regarding the future.
On the occasion of his presence in Brussels to address the 3rd Conference of the Armenian Genocide Committees in Europe, Catholicos Aram I of Cilicia had the opportunity to meet the representatives of countries and institutions at the EU during formal dinners. At a luncheon offered by the Ambassador of Lebanon to Belgium, the…
During the closing dinner of the conference organized by the Armenian Genocide Committee in Brussels, His Holiness Aram I addressed the President of Karabagh, the President of the National Assembly of Armenia and the delegates. He said, āthe values we cherish as a nation and our common challenges should outweigh our differences and provide the…
In his opening remarks to the 3rd Convention of the European Armenians, His Holiness Aram I urged Turkey to āreturn the Armenian churches to their legitimate owners, the Armenian peopleā. Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Speaking about the Armenian peopleās struggle for justice, he said that āNumerous studies, publications, lectures, seminars and conferences, substantiated by historical evidences and eye…
Addressing the Conference of the Armenian Communities and Organizations of Europe, His Holiness Aram I stressed the need āto move from the stage of recognition to reparation in our struggle for justiceā. Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā The main item on the agenda of the conference was the Armenian Genocide. Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Catholicos Aram I expressed his high appreciation to…
HASK – September 2013 read here https://www.armenianorthodoxchurch.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/SEPTEMBER-2013.pdf
On Sunday 13 October 2013, Rev. Housig Mardirossian the new Dean of the seminary celebrated the Holy Liturgy at St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral in Antelias. Old and new students and the faculty took part in the liturgy and received Holy Communion. In his sermon Rev. Housig welcomed the new seminarians to the community…
13-15 October 2013 the Armenian Genocide Committee in Brussels is holding two meetings to discuss the just cause of the Armenians, organized by the Armenian Cause (Hay Tad) committee in Brussels. The first consultation will address the Armenian representatives of the Hay Tad committees in Europe and will then expand to include non-Armenian jurists…
The nine-member delegation of the Catholicosate of Cilicia to the WCC Assembly in Busan (South Korea) will include high-ranking clergy and lay women and men representing the dioceses of the Catholicosate in the Diaspora. On 9 October 2013, the members of the Ecumenical Committee met with the delegates from Lebanon for a briefing session.…
On Monday 7 October 2013, the Diocesan Council of Lebanon met at St. Nishan Church in Beirut to elect a new Primate from a short list of three names. The Council elected Bishop ShahĆ© Panossian who had the highest number of votes. The Bishop, who joined the brotherhood in 1971, was ordained as deacon…
On Sunday 6 October 2013 after the Holy Liturgy at the St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral in Antelias, His Holiness Aram I received Mr and Mrs Kurdoghlian and guests at the Main Hall of the Catholicosate. Bishop Khoren Toghramadjian, the Prelate of Greece introduced the couple to the guests. He noted that after graduating…
3-7 October 2013, the second meeting of the Oriental Orthodox, Anglican bilateral dialogue was held in London. Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, and Rev. ShahĆ© Ananian represented the Catholicosate of Etchmiadzin, and Archibishop Nareg Alemezian and Bishop ShahĆ© Panossian represented the Catholicosate of Cilicia. Archbishop Nareg and Rev Jeffrey Raul co-chaired the meeting, which discussed the…
During a breakfast meeting on 27 September 2013, President Serge Sarkissian and the two Catholicoi discussed the outcomes of the Bishops conference and their impact on Church-State, Armenia-Diaspora relations.
On Friday 27 September 2013, the conference was concluded with the following decisions: Revive the ancient tradition ofĀ making saints of the Armenian Church, and apply it to the Martyrs of the Ā Ā Ā Ā Armenian Genocide. Approve the report of theĀ Committee on the Sacraments of Baptism and Anointing. Continue discussing the currentĀ challenges to the Armenian Church…
On Tuesday 24 September 2014, His Holiness Catholicos Karekin II of All Armenians and His Holiness Catholicos Aram I of Cilicia inaugurated the Conference of Armenian Bishops in Holy Etchmadzin. The conference is being attended by 62 bishops and archbishops. The President of Armenia, Serge Sarkissian, attended the opening and welcomed the participants. The meeting…
On Monday 23 September 2013, His Holiness Aram I left for Armenia to preside over the Bishops Conference with His Holiness Karekin II. The conference will be held 24-27 September and Catholicos Aram I will return on the 27th in the evening.
On 18 September 2013, Former President Amin Gemayel met with His Holiness Aram I at the Bikfaya monastery. Hagop Pakradouni, Armenian MP, was also present at the meeting that lasted more than an hour. They discussed the situation in Lebanon and Syria and also the problems of Christians in the Middle East.
17-18 September, a delegation of young priests, headed by Rev. Ghevont Pentezian, participated in a conference organized by the Department on Diakonia and Social Justice of the MECC. Participants included representatives of member churches and civil society organizations. Participants discussed theological and issue-oriented topics, and visited church-sponsored diakonia projects.
On 16 September 2013, the Council of Religion of the Executive Committee of the Catholicosate met under the presidency of His Holiness Aram I at the monastery in Bikfaya. After studying the programme adopted by the recent National Assembly of the Catholicosate, the members of the Council agreed on a plan of action. They…
His Holiness Aram I, assisted by the Executive Council of the Catholicosate of Cilicia, is continuing to work with architects and artists to restore Genocide monuments and redesign others. The work is planned to end by the beginning of 2015 and will be ready for the nation-wide commemorative activities that are also being planned under…
13 September 2013. Following a concert in Antelias, His Holiness Aram I decorated the nationally acclaimed classical and traditional singer with the insignia of āSt. Mesrob Mashdotzā. In his Letter of Blessing, Catholicos Aram I described Kevork Bebedjian as a singer who transmits the hopes and expectations of the Armenian people to non-Armenians. Ā
On Thursday 12 September 2013, the committee of ACUSA met with His Holiness Aram I and presented their programme. After a brief discussion, the Catholicos complimented them on their mission as Armenian university students and encouraged them to motivate many more young students currently enrolled in universities. He informed them that many former ACUSA members…
8-11 September 2013, Archbishop Nareg Alemezian attended the meetings of the leaders of āEcumenical Conversationsā to take place during the Assembly in Busan, Republic of South Korea, from 30 October to 8 November 2013. While in Geneva, the Archbishop also met with the General Secretary of the World Council of Churches as well as with…
