On 16 February 2013, His Holiness Aram I visited the ailing Syrian Orthodox Patriarch, who is currently staying at the Atchane monastery in Lebanon. The Catholicos was accompanied by his assistant, Rev. Mesrob Sarkissian, and the ecumenical officer, Archbishop Nareg Alemezian. After a brief private session, four bishops from the monastery joined for a meeting…
On 15 February 2013, Ashod Kocharian, the Ambassador of Armenia to Lebanon met with His Holiness Aram I. He informed the Catholicos of the decision to hold a special requiem service on 3 March 2013, to honor the memory of the victims of the Sumkait massacres in 1988 by the Ariris. In the end of…
On 14 February the members of the Lebanon Chapter of the Fund met with Catholicos Aram I and handed him a check in the amount of USD 100,000- to provide humanitarian assistance the community in Syria. Upon receiving the check, His Holiness thanked the members of the Pan Armenian Fund for their initiative and…
The last module of the third cycle of the āRoaming Collegeā European Project for Interreligious Learning (EPIL) for Christian and Muslim women was held 2-11 February 2013, in Beirut Lebanon. 37 students, Academic Team and Board members, from Europe and the Middle East, accompanied by the two co-Directors Dr. Reinhild Traitler-Espiritu and Mag. Teny Pirri-Simonian…
11 February 2013 the faithful in the Armenian Orthodox Church began 40 days of Lent, a period of praying, self-inquiry and fasting. Prayer services will be held on Wednesdays and Fridays; His Holiness Aram I will preside over the service and the faithful will do the chanting. After the service, the clergy will lead Bible…
On Sunday 10 February after the Holy Liturgy, the Sunday school children, disguised in carnival costumes, with their parents and teachers met His Holiness Aram I and received his blessings. He commended the lively Sunday Schools and noted that these schools in all the dioceses of the Catholicosate have been teaching religious education since their…
On Friday 8 February 2013, the two spiritual leaders met in RabuĆ©. They discussed ways of reinforcing the unity of Christians in the region and strengthening the Middle East Council of Churches. They also discussed the possibility of celebrating Easter together and proposed organizing a meeting of the Heads of the Churches in the Middle…
āST. VATANANTZ IS THE SYMBOL OF FAITHFULNESS TO OUR CHRISTIAN FAITH AND TO OUR HOMELANDā On Thursday, the Very Rev. Vaghinag Meloyan celebrated the Holy Liturgy of the feast. For Armenians, St. Vartanantz is the symbol of preserving their faith. It is the commemoration of the battle in 451 when the commander Vartan Mamigonian…
Tuesday 5 February 2013. The Lebanese members of the Executive committee of the MECC, its General Secretary Bishop Paul Rouhana and the Executive staff held an extraordinary meeting presided over by His Holiness Aram I. During the meeting they discussed procedures for the election of a new General Secretary, studied the finances of the Council,…
On Sunday 3 February, following the Holy Liturgy, the clergy and the faithful moved to the Mausoleum where His Holiness Aram I presided over the memorial service in honor of the seven deceased Catholicoi of Cilicia, since its re-establishment in Lebanon following the Armenian Genocide. They remembered Sahak I, Papken I, Bedros I, Karekin I,…
On the occasion of the international day of social workers, the staff of Armenian institutions visited His Holiness Aram I on Friday 1 February 2013. On behalf of the group, Ms. Annie Boudjikanian reported on their work and shared their concerns. In his message, the Catholicos welcomed the group and thanked them for serving the…
1 February 2013. The members met with His Holiness Aram I in his office and reported on their activities and future plans. After listening to the committeeās plans and a brief discussion, the Catholicos proposed that the committee focus its work not only on commemoration but also on activities that would reclaim the stolen…
On Thursday 31 January 2013, the members of the Executive Committee visited the Catholicosate to express their good wishes for 2013 to His Holiness Aram I, and hear his views on the situation in the Middle East and Lebanon. In response to their questions, His Holiness said that Christian-Muslim coexistence is an essential concern…
On Tuesday 29 January 2013 in the morning, His Holiness Aram I received the Metropolitan Ghattas Hazim, Dean of the Theological Faculty, University of Balamand. The representative had come to discuss with the Catholicos political and ecumenical issues related to the region.
The 10th session of the International Theological Dialogue Commission was held in Rome from 23 to 27 January 2013. The Armenian Church was represented by Archbishop Yeznik Bedrossian and Rev. ShahĆ© Ananian from the Holy See of Etchmiadzin and Archbishops Oshagan Choloyan and Nareg Alemezian from the Catholicosate of Cilicia. The representatives of the…
On Sunday 20 January 2013, the week of Prayer for Christian Unity began with an ecumenical prayer at the Syriac Catholic Church in Beirut where His Holiness Aram I was present among the other heads of religious communities in Lebanon. The final closing ecumenical prayers took place Sunday evening at the St. Gregory the Illuminator…
24 January 2013. Last week upon the invitation of His Holiness Aram I, the members of the Council of Laity and the Religious Council of the Central Committee of the National Assembly of the Catholicosate of Cilicia and the Diocesan Bishops met to prepare the National Assembly of the Holy See of Cilicia scheduled for…
On Thursday 24 January 2013, upon receiving the news of the election of Archbishop Nourhan as successor to the late Patriarch Torkom, Catholicos Aram I congratulated the Patriarch personally, and said, āThe close relations we have enjoyed with the Patriarchate of Jerusalem should now be strengthened.ā The Catholicos then added, āWe should strengthen cooperation between…
On Wednesday 16 January 2013, Ambassador Ghadonfar Rokon Abadi met His Holiness Aram I and briefed him on the efforts of his country to bring an end to the crisis in Syria. After listening to the Ambassador, His Holiness stated his position as follows: First, a political solution must be found immediately in order…
On 16 December 2012, representatives of ACUSA, following up an earlier meeting, which had been initiated by His Holiness Aram I, met with the Catholicos to discuss their plans for future activities. The Catholicos appointed a committee of eleven women and men and then discussed priorities. Creating a network of former members of ACUSA in…
Aram Ier : Ā« Aider les ArmĆ©niens de Syrie est une prioritĆ© pour notre peuple Ā» Ā Le Catholicos de la Grande Maison de Cilicie exhorte le monde armĆ©nien Ć poursuivre son aide aux ArmĆ©niens de Syrie plongĆ©s dans la tourmente. Interview exclusive (1). France-ArmĆ©nie : Votre SaintetĆ©, on parle beaucoup ces derniers mois…
On Tuesday 15 January 2013, Sunni and Shiāte scholars representing the Association met Catholicos Aram I and discussed three issues: strengthening Christian and Muslim relations, the social role of religion and the proposed new election law. His Holiness stated his positions as follows: ā¢ Christian-Muslim dialogue should be strengthened in the region and particularly…
12 January 2013. The Patriarchal Vicar of the Maronite Church, Archbishop Paul Sayah, visited His Holiness Aram I. The Archbishop briefed the Catholicos on the meeting initiated by Patriarch, Cardinal Rai, on Friday, 11 January, at which he and Maronite political leaders met to discuss issues related to the electoral law. Catholicos Aram I…
āTHE BIRTH OF THE SON OF GOD IS THE RENEWAL OF HUMANITYā SAID HIS HOLINESS ARAM I On 6 January 2013, the Armenian Orthodox Churches all over the world celebrated Christmas and Epiphany according to the Early Church calendar. The Early Church celebrated both feasts on the same date. With the division of the…
In the past few years, the Catholicosate of Cilicia has celebrated the Year of the Armenian Child, the Armenian Youth and the Armenian Woman. His Holiness Aram I has now declared 2013, the Year of the Armenian Mother. In his Pontifical letter to the Diocesan Bishops, the Catholicos described his expectations as follows: 1.…
āLET US REVIEW THE PAST WITH ACCOUNTABILITY AND EMBRACE THE FUTURE WITH COMMITMENTā SAID HIS HOLINESS ARAM I On 1 January 2013, after the New Yearās thanksgiving Liturgy at St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral in Antelias, His Holiness Aram I received the clergy and laity at the Main Hall of his residence. The…
Pontifical Message Addressed to the Prelates of the Dioceses of the Holy See of Cilicia, Members of the Clergy, Church Councils and Community Organizations, And the Faithful of the Armenian Church Ā We greet you from the Holy See of Cilicia in Antelias with Christian love and fatherly blessing, and we pray that 2012 will…
To the Diocesan Prelates, Clergy, Community Leaders, and Faithful of the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia Ā We greet you with pontifical blessings, warm Christian love, and ardent national feelings. At the threshold of the New Year, we wish you a year full of health, happiness, success and divine grace. As you…
ARMENIAN CATHOLICOSATE OF THE GREAT HOUSE OF CILICIA Ā YEAR OF THE ARMENIAN WOMAN 2010 Ā MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS ARAM I, CATHOLICOS OF THE GREAT HOUSE OF CILICIA Ā ANTELIAS Ā To the Diocesan Prelates, Clergymen, National Authorities, And the Armenian Faithful Of the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia On the…
LA VĆRITĆ EFFRAIE MAIS RECONCILIE S.S. Catholicos Aram I La vĆ©ritĆ© est une valeur sacrĆ©e. Cette affirmation constitue le Ā dĆ©nominateur commun de multiples conceptions, dĆ©finitions et formulations de la vĆ©ritĆ©. La vĆ©ritĆ© est le fondement de la sociĆ©tĆ© et gouverne toutes les structures et dimensions, manifestations et relations de la vie humaine.…
ARMENIAN CATHOLICOSATE OF THE GREAT HOUSE OF CILICIA YEAR OF THE YOUTH 2009 MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS ARAM I, CATHOLICOS OF THE GREAT HOUSE OF CILICIA ANTELIAS To the Diocesan Prelates, Clergymen, National Authorities, And the Armenian Faithful Of the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia On the threshold of…
This is the text of a keynote lecture delivered by His Holiness Catholicos Aram I at an ecumenical consultation, organized by the World Council of Churches, together with Secretaries of Christian World Communions 18.20 October 2008, Geneva, Switzerland. Ā LIVING AS A COMMUNITY WITH ISLAM ā CONCERNS, CHALLENGES AND PROMISES ā Christians and Muslims…
2008 “YEAR OF CHRISTIAN EDUCATION” PONTIFICAL MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS ARAM I To the Diocesan Prelates, Clergymen, National Representative Assemblies, and the Armenian Faithful of the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia On the threshold of the year 2008, we greet you with pontifical blessing and warm Christian love from the…
A MESSAGE FROM HIS HOLINESS ARAM I TO THE FOURTH ANNUAL SESSION OF THE WORLD PUBLIC FORUM “DIALOGUE OF CIVILIZATIONS” (September 27-October 1, 2006, Rhodes, Greece) I warmly welcome the Fourth Annual Meeting of the World Public Forum “Dialogue Ā of Ā Civilizations”. Ā You Ā are Ā meeting Ā once Ā again Ā to Ā address Ā issues Ā and challenges of common concern.…
THE MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS ARAM I ADDRESSED TO THE INTER-RELIGIOUS CONFERENCE ORGANIZED BY THE RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH 3ā5 July 2006, Moscow I would like to express my warm thanks to His Holiness Alexy II, for inviting me to this important gathering of high ranking representatives of the living faiths of the world. Due…
Is Another World Possible? These are the concluding remarks of His Holiness Aram I at the 9th Assembly of the World Council of Churches on 23rd February 2006, Ā Porte Alegre, Brazil. āGod, in your grace, transform the worldā. With these words, in this Assembly, we prayed and hoped, we reflected and acted.…
The full text of the report of the WCC Moderator His Holiness Aram I Catholicos of Cilicia, addressed to the WCC 9th Assembly held in Porto Alegre, Brazil, 14-23 February 2006. World Council of Churches 9th Assembly 14 to 23 February 2006 Porto Alegre, Brazil Document No. A 01 Ā Ā Report of the Moderator…
FROM REFLECTION TO RECEPTION CHALLENGES FACING THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH-WCC COLLABORATION His Holiness Aram I Catholicos of Cilicia Moderator of the Central Committee World Council of Churches As we, Ā representatives of Ā the Ā World Council of Ā Churches (WCC) and Ā the Ā Roman Catholic Church, embark on a process of reflecting together on the future…
TO THE PRELATES, NATIONAL REPRESENTATIVE ASSEMBLIES OF THE NORTH AMERICAN PRELACIESĀ I greet you from the Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia, in Antelias, Lebanon, with Christian love and Pontifical blessing. I spent almost six weeks with you in Canada and in the United States of America. We met in churches and schools. We met…
Re-commitment to peace with justice By His Holiness Aram I Catholicos of Cilicia and moderator of the WCC Central Committee The United Nations has called on all member states to observe 21 September as the International Day of Peace. In the framework of its Decade to Overcome Violence, the World Council of Churches,…
Renouvellement de lāengagement en faveur de la paix dans la justice Ā par Sa SaintetĆ© Aram Ier Catholicos de Cilicie et prĆ©sident du ComitĆ© central du Conseil ÅcumĆ©nique des Eglises Les Nations Unies ont appelĆ© tous leurs Etats membres Ć observer la JournĆ©e internationale de la paix, fixĆ©e au 21 septembre. Dans le cadre…
I greet you as Moderator of the World Council of Churches and express my deep appreciation to you for responding to the Council’s invitation. This gathering displays a unique importance for two main reasons: One, this is the first time that an inter-religious conference of such size and scope is taking place at the initiative…
Recognition and Compensation The Way to Reconciliation Once again, I have come as a pilgrim to Deir Zor, to this sacred place imbued with the blood and faith of the Armenian martyrs. For the Armenian people Deir Zor is not merely geographical place or just a reminder of a tragedy pertaining to history. Deir…
CONFESSION ET JUSTICE : LA VOIE DE LA RECONCILIATION Par Sa SaintetĆ© Le Catholicos ARAM I Dans le monde fragmentĆ© d’aujourd’hui, la rĆ©conciliation revĆŖt une importance majeure et doit constituer une Ā prioritĆ© pour la CommunautĆ© Internationale. Dans la reconstruction d’un monde meilleur, plusieurs gĆ©nocides impunis ainsi que maintes conflits et questions relevant des…
HEALING EMPOWERING, TRANSFORMING AND RECONCILING ACT OF THE CHURCH Ā The dawn of the 21st century is marked by growing uncertainty and anxiety. The world in which we live is broken, a world dominated by evil forces that are generating a culture of violence and hopelessness. The signs of the times are clear: the AIDS…
ENCYCLICAL OF HIS HOLINESS ARAM I, CATHOLICOS OF THE GREAT HOUSE OF CILICIA, ON THE OCCASION OF THE 1600TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE INVENTION OF THE ARMENIAN ALPHABET ARAM Servant of Jesus Christ and, by the will of the incomprehensible God and by the selection of our Nation, Chief Bishop and Catholicos of the Great…
BETHLĆHEM, SOURCE DE VIE ĆTERNELLE Parlant de lāIncarnation du Fils de Dieu, lāApĆ“tre Saint Jean dit: Dieu a tant aimĆ© le monde quāil a donnĆ© son Fils unique, pour que tout homme qui croit en lui ne pĆ©risse pas mais ait la vie Ć©ternelle (Jn 3,16). Dieu devint homme, afin dāoffrir Ć lāhomme…
ENCYCLICAL OF HIS HOLINESS ARAM I, CATHOLICOS OF THE GREAT HOUSE OF CILICIA, ON THE OCCASION OF THE 90TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE ARAM I Ā Servant of Jesus Christ and, by the will of the incomprehensible God and by the selection of our Nation, Chief Bishop and Catholicos of the Great House…
Ā ECUMENISM Ā IN PROCESS Ā OF TRANSFORMATION Problems, challenges and prospects Ā Ā His Holiness Aram I Catholicos of Cilicia Ā Ā Moderator of the Central Committee Of the World Council of Churches Ā Consultation on Ecumenism in the 21st Century Chavannes-de-Bogis, Switzerland Ā 30 November 2004 ECUMENISM Ā IN PROCESS Ā OF TRANSFORMATION Problems, challenges and prospects The repercussions…
Impunity perpetrates injustice This Conference on “Genocide, Impunity and Justice” organized by the Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia, will undoubtedly bring a particular contribution to the Armenian Church’s engagement in the promotion of justice, peace and human rights. The 20th century was an age of genocides. With the Declaration of Human Rights in 1948…
“The truth must be told and accepted; the memory must be respected” On the occasion of the WCC delegation’s visit to Rwanda, an interview was conducted by the WCC Public Information Team with His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of Cilicia and Moderator of the WCC Central Committee.Ā In the following interview His Holiness addresses…
THE ARMENIAN PEOPLE STAND WITH THE PEOPLE OF RWANDA His Holiness Aram I As we come together in this stadium let us say together “glory be to God”, because He has brought us together as one people of God. Let us say together, “glory be to God”, because there is hope for Africa.…
GENOCIDES IN THE 20THE CENTURY AND LESSONS TO HUMANITY (A Brief Reflection) Ā His Holiness Aram I The 20th Century was an age of genocides, and the list is depressingly long: Armenians, Jews, Cambodians, Kurds, Tutsis, Croats, Muslims, Albanians. The international community was always slow to respond to these mass killings, and in some…
Ā TOWARDS THE NEW ECUMENICAL CONFIGURATION FOR THE 21ST CENTURY It is a profound spiritual joy to greet you in this center of the Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia. Since its formation late in the first century and its in- stitutionalization at the beginning of the fourth century, the Armenian Orthodox Church, with Ā its Ā theological broadmindedness,…
Complexities of the world urge religions to move from co-existing to acting together His Holiness Aram I Catholicos of Cilicia This is the text of the annual report of His Holiness Aram I presented to the Central Committee of the World Council of Churches on Tuesday 26 August 2003 in Geneva, Switzerland. His…
MULTILATERALISM: THE BASIS OF A NEW WORLD ORDER Aram I Catholicos of Cilicia The events of September 11th Ā brought into question the conventional understanding of power. They demonstrated to the world that arrogance of power and vulnerability of power are intertwined. September 11th happened against the background of a world characterized by terrorism,…
LE MULTILATĆRALISME: FONDEMENT D’UN NOUVEL ORDRE MONDIAL Les Ć©vĆ©nements du 11 septembre ont changĆ© le cours de l’histoire. Ils ont rĆ©vĆ©lĆ© aussi bien l’arrogance du pouvoir que sa vulnĆ©rabilitĆ©. Ils ont exprimĆ© le degrĆ© de haine et de mĆ©fiance dans le monde d’aujourd’hui. Le 11 septembre demeurera un rappel tangible et douloureux d’un monde…
ĆTRE CHRĆTIEN, C’EST UN COMBAT SPIRITUEL LāIncarnation de Dieu est dĆ©crite dans lāĆvangile comme Emmanuel, cāest Ć dire Dieu avec nous. Cāest lĆ lāessence mĆŖme de la rĆ©vĆ©lation divine. Dans la thĆ©ologie chrĆ©tienne la rĆ©vĆ©lation de Dieu cāest prĆ©cisĆ©ment ĆŖtre avec lāhomme, rĆ©vĆ©ler Son amour envers Sa crĆ©ature, engager le dialogue avec elle. Ce…
L’ArmĆ©nie et la Nation ArmĆ©nienne au carrefour des nations et des cultures C’est une grande joie pour moi de vous saluer dans l’esprit de fraternitĆ© et d’amour chrĆ©tiens. Vous ĆŖtes assemblĆ©s au SĆ©nat, un des bastions de la haute politique franƧaise, afin de dĆ©battre ensemble des soucis et des perspectives concernant le prĆ©sent et…
CHALLENGES FACING CHRISTIAN-MUSLIM DIALOGUE Introductory Remarks It is a great pleasure and special joy to welcome you to the Ecumenical Center. The World Council of Churches is a global fellowship of churches, which, through common reflection and action, calls the churches to closer collaboration and common witness aimed at the visible unity of the…
WORLD COUNCIL OF CHURCHES CENTRAL COMMITTEE Geneva, Switzerland 26 August ā 3 September 2002 REPORT OF THE MODERATOR 1. The World Council of Churches was mandated by its 8th Assembly to take up the challenge of globalization as a central part of its agenda. In taking up this challenge, the Council has focused…
LA FRANCOPHONIE : UN ENGAGEMENT POUR LES DROITS DE LāHOMME par S.S. Aram I Catholicos de Cilicie La prochaine rĆ©union des chefs d’Ć©tat des pays francophones Ć Beyrouth est un grand Ć©vĆ©nement pour le Moyen-Orient en gĆ©nĆ©ral et le Liban en particulier. Il est certain que cette rencontre ouvrira une page nouvelle dans l’histoire…
FROM CO-EXISTING TO LIVING TOGETHER (Some observations) 1) Pluralism is a salient feature of modern society. East and West, North and South are no longer sharply divided in terms of religion, culture and economy. Boundaries have disappeared. Walls have been destroyed. Pluralism, coupled with globalization, imposes a way of life that is marked by…
1) Pluralism is a salient feature of modern society. East and West, North and South are no longer sharply divided in terms of religion, culture and economy. Boundaries have disappeared. Walls have been destroyed. Pluralism, coupled with globalization, imposes a way of life that is marked by dialogical inter-action. Nations, cultures, religions and civilizations do…
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON THE GLOBAL PRESERVATION OF SACRED SITES November 9ā11, 2001 Taipei, Taiwan I send to you my greetings Ā in the spirit of the unity of humankind from the headquarters of the Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia of the Armenian Church, in Antelias, Lebanon. I also greet the Venerable Dharma Master Hsin Tao,…
Ā INTOLERANCE: AN EVIL THAT MUST BE ERADICATED HIS HOLINESS ARAM I This Is the text of the message of His Holiness Aram I addresses to the International conference of United Nations, on racism which will take place from 28-7th September 2001 Durban, South Africa. This message of His Holiness was written upon the…
THE HOLY MURON: A SOURCE OF SPIRITUAL RENEWAL O Holy Church, be joyful, because today the earth becomes heaven with your renewal. These simple yet mighty words of the hymn once more echo in our hearts on this unique spiritual moment in the life of the Armenian Orthodox Church. āBe joyfulā Armenian…
THE WITNESS OF THE ARMENIAN CHURCH IN THE MIDDLE EAST āĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā SOME FACTS AND PERSPECTIVES ā The 1700 years of Armenian Christianity can be depicted as a pilgrimage of faith; indeed, a pilgrimage of faith that started with the preaching and martyrdom of the two apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, St. Thaddeus…
