On Wednesday, February 2nd, 2022, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I and Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the Vatican’s Secretary for Relations with States, met at the Maronite patriarchate in Bkerki. Ā They reviewed the result of the Vatican meeting between the Lebanese Christian leaders held last year on July 1st and its outcome. Archbishop Gallagher offered…
With the Committee members of the Armenological Center: Arch. Shahan Sarkissian, Mr. Dikran Jinbashian and Mr. Shahan Kandaharian, Aram I discussed the possibility of opening online sessions for students living abroad, as well as receiving accreditation from the Lebanese Government through cooperation with the Khatcher Kalousdian Pedagogical Center, given the Centerās significant role in the…
On Thursday, January 27th, 2022, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I received respectively the newly elected committees of the Armenian Relief Cross of Lebanon (ARCL) and HomenetmenĀ Lebanon. Ā The ARCL committee was headed by Nelly Vekilian, representative of the Central Committee of the Armenian Relief Society and Silva Sabounjian, chair of the ARCL committee. They…
On Wednesday, January 26th, 2022, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I received Dr. Joanna Wronecka, representative of the UN General Secretary Antonio Guterres, who extended a letter from Guterres to His Holiness. Ā In the letter, the UN Secretary General conveys his appreciation for His Holinessā efforts in regard to resolving Lebanonās crisis, his significant contribution…
On Saturday, January 22nd, 2022, the Armenian Genocide Commemoration Body of the Hamazkayin Regional Committee of Lebanon visited His Holiness Catholicos Aram I and presented the outline of their events asking for His Holinessā blessing, who welcomed their initiative and commended their efforts. It is noteworthy to mention that the Commemoration Committee will shed…
A delegation representing the Social Democrat Hunchag Party, headed by the chair of the Central Committee of the Party Dr. Hampig Sarafian, visited His Holiness Catholicos Aram I on Monday, January 24th, 2022. Ā In attendance were also Alexan Keoshgerianāmember of the Central Committee, Vanig Dakessianārepresentative of the Lebanon Regional Committee, and Aram Malianāchair of…
On Monday, January 24th, 2022, a gathering of the Cilician Brotherhood residing in Antelias was held in the main hall of the Catholicosate in Antelias, presided by His Holiness Catholicos Aram I. During the gathering, His Holiness informed the brotherhood on the activities and events to take place within the proclamation of 2022 as…
On Thursday, January 20th, 2022, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I received Abbas Halabi, Education Minister of Lebanon, and discussed matters concerning the projects of the Ministry of Education. Ā The meeting was also an opportunity to reflect on the current development of Christian-Islamic dialogue, given that His Holiness has met Minister Halabi within the inter-religious…
On Wednesday, January 19th, 2022, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I received Dr. Joe Salloum, president of the Lebanese Pharmacists syndicate. The aim of the visit was to ask His Holinessā opinion on the methods of implementation of the medicine cards that will be provided to the citizen. Ā His Holiness also received Roger Edde, president…
At the initiative of World Council of Churches, a week of prayer for Christian unity is observed annually worldwide on the second week of January. Ā In Lebanon, the opening ceremony of the prayer week was held on Sunday evening, January 16th, 2022, at St. Elias and St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Catholic Church in…
The Lebanon Regional Committee of the Armenian Democratic Liberal Party (Ramgavar Party) headed by Sevag Hagopian, visited His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, on Saturday, January 15th, 2022. Ā During the meeting they touched upon the situation in Lebanon, as well as Armenia-Diaspora relations and the activities related to the “Year of the Diaspora” proclaimed by…
DECLARATION OF HIS HOLINESS CATHOLICOS ARAM I HOLY SEE OF CILICIA To the Prelates, The Clergy,Ā The Community LeadersĀ of the Great House of Cilicia, and to the daughters and sons of our people,Ā On the eve of 2022, from the Mother Monastery of the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia…
The Feast of Nativity and Theophany of our Lord Jesus Christ was marked at St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral in Antelias on Thursday, January 6th, 2022. His Holiness Catholicos Aram I celebrated the Divine Liturgy and delivered the pontifical sermon. Archbishop Gomidas Ohanian and Archbishop Shahan Sarkissian served at the altar alongside the Catholicos, while…
The feast of St. Stephen the protodeacon holds a special place in the Armenian Church Calendar: on this occasion, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I presides over the Divine Liturgy dedicated to the feast and delivers the message of the feast during a celebration prepared by the Seminarians, in the Main Hall of the Catholicosate. Ā …
His Holiness Catholicos Aram I surprised the children of the Naregatsi choir and joined their New Yearās and Christmas celebrations on Saturday, December 25th, 2021. After cutting the cake, two siblings from the choir presented His Holiness with a special gift: a miniature replica of St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral.
Yesterday a meeting took place between the General Secretary of the United Nations, H.E. Antonio Guterres and the heads of the six major Christian and Muslim communities of Lebanon: His Beatitude Patriarch Bechara Boutros Rahi, Maronite Patriarch of Antioch and Head of the Maronite Church; His Eminence Abdul Latif Derian, Sunni Grand Mufti; Judge Sheikh…
Following the Divine Liturgy on Sunday, December 19th, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I decorated Dr. Hrayr Jebejian āwriter and General Secretary of the Bible Society in the Gulfā with the āSt. Mesrob Mashdotsā Insignia, at the Main Hall of the Catholicosate, in Antelias. Ā The welcoming remarks were addressed by the director of the Armenological…
With the blessing of His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, the relics of Saint James of Nisibis were brought out of the Cilicia Museum and placed in St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral during the Vespers service on Friday, December 17th, 2021. The faithful continued to receive the blessings from the relic until Sunday.
On Friday evening, December 10th, 2021, the President of the Republic of Armenia Armen Sargsyan met with the spiritual leader of the Armenian Community in Qatar V. Rev. Fr. Boghos Tinkjian and the Armenian Executive Committee of Qatar. Ā The Armenian Ambassador to Qatar Armen Sargsyan addressed the audience with welcoming remarks and next Fr.…
The Commission on World Mission and Evangelism of the World Council of Churches (WCC), in collaboration with the International Missionary Council (IMC), marks the 100th anniversary of the IMC through a series of activities taking place in 2021-2022. The events of the centennial will focus on the history, current status and future field of work…
On Tuesday morning, December 14th, 2021, Rev. Prof. Dr. Ioan Sauca, the Acting General Secretary of the World Council of Churches, accompanied by Carla Khijoyan, the representative of the Holy See of Cilicia at the WCC and the Programme Executive for the Middle East at the WCC. Ā They discussed issues concerning the ecumenical movement…
On Saturday evening, December 11th, 2021, the Armenian Church University Students Association (ACUSA) held a meeting and discussion with His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, in the Cilicia Museumās hall. Ā His Holiness has declared 2022 the year of the Diaspora, hence, the students obtained the opportunity to focus their discussion on the youth of the…
The Armenian Ambassador to Lebanon, Mr. Vahagn Atabekyan visited His Holiness Catholicos Aram I on Saturday, December 11th, 2021. During the meeting, Ā matters concerning the Armenian people within the geopolitical and religiopolitical spheres were discussed.
Following the Divine Liturgy celebrated on Sunday, December 12th, 2021, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I received a delegation from the World Council of Churches (WCC) composed of Ms. Carla Khijoyan, Rev. Dr. Abraham Wilar and Rev. Yoleni Rebelais. Ā Ms. Khijoyan is the Programme Executive for the Middle East at the WCC, while Rev. Dr.…
On Friday, December 3rd, 2021, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I extended a letter of congratulations to Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al Nahyan, the president of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the UAE National Day. In his letter, His Holiness stressed that the Armenians of the UAE…
On Thursday, December 2nd, 2021, His Holiness presided over the meeting of the Lay Council of the Central Committee co-chaired by Stepan Der Bedrossian and Krikor Mahseredjian. Ā His Holiness addressed the opening remarks and briefed on the administrative, financial, construction and other activities and projects undertaken in the previous months, stressing that the Holy…
Presided by His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, On Wednesday, December 1st, 2021, the Religious Council of the Central Committee convened, chaired by H.E. Arch. Oshagan Choloyan and H.E. Arch. Nareg Alemezian. The key discussions revolved around the Theological Seminary, Christian education, social services, ecumenical and inter-religious relations, rites and rituals, translation of the Bible…
On Tuesday, November 30th, 2021, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I presided over the Cilician Brotherhood gathering held in Antelias. Ā After welcoming the prelates, who had arrived to Antelias to participate in the meetings of the Religious and Lay Councils of the Central Council convening in the coming days, the Catholicos addressedĀ matters concerning the…
On Monday, November 29th, 2021, the Armenian Catholic Patriarch His Beatitude RaphaĆ«l Bedros XXI visited His Holiness Catholicos Aram I. Ā The two discussed issues pertaining to the Armenian people, Ā Armenia and Lebanon, and stressed the imperative of strengthening the cooperation between the two churches and the unity of the people in order to overcome…
On Saturday, November 27th, 2021, the Armenian MP in the parliament of Cyprus Vartkes Mahdessian visited His Holiness Aram I to receive his blessing and recommendations on the occasion of his reelection. Warmly congratulating Mahdessian, His Holiness expressed his high appreciation for his service and blessed his continued work in the Parliament.
The tradition of visiting His Holiness Aram I to receive his blessings before the beginning of the Sunday school year resumed after a short interruption due to the Pandemic. On Sunday, November 28th, 2021, following the Divine Liturgy, a group of students, their parents and the teachers, headed by the director of the Christian Education…
On Saturday, November 20th, 2021, His Holiness Aram I presided over a set of meetings, all related to the life of the brotherhood, including the committee working towards the improvement of the ritual life, the newly appointed meeting of directors, and the meeting with newly ordained priests.
On Thursday, November 18th, 2021, the newly elected committee of the Union of the Social Workers of the Armenian Community in Lebanon visited His Holiness Aram I to present him their forthcoming agenda and receive his blessing. The Catholicos commended their commitment to their vocation, especially during these times of uncertainties. Ā
The Armenian Church, Holy See of Cilicia strongly condemns the latest provocation attacks by the Azerbaijani regime which occurred earlier today, infringing the sovereignty of Armenia as well as causing a number of Armenian casualties and injuries. Ā Ā Azerbaijan continues to neglect human rights while blatantly violating international law. With todayās provocation, the Azerbaijani…
On Saturday, November 13th, 2021, the Hamazkayin Central Committee, headed by Dr. Meguerditch Meguerditchian, visited His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, and briefed him on their activities through their worldwide branches and the challenges they are facing during the pandemic. Ā And on Monday, November 15th, His Holiness received the Hamazkayin Regional Committee of Lebanon, accompanied…
We cordially announce that Mr. and Mrs. Alecco and Ani Bezikian continue their support to the Lebanese Armenian community. In this regard, and after the successful completion of the first phase of providing medical assistance to 529 cases between July 1st and October 1st, the Alecco and Ani Bezikian Fund now enters its second phase…
Friday, November 12th, 2021, the Italian Ambassador to Lebanon Dr. Nicoletta Bombardiere visited His Holiness Catholicos Aram I. The meeting was an opportunity to discuss the Lebanese Christian leadersā meeting held in Vatican in July, as well as the current challenges faced by Lebanon. The Ambassador talked about the efforts of Italy in…
On Thursday, November 11th, 2021, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I received Hagop Der Khatchadurian, the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) Bureau Representative. During the meeting they discussed issues concerning the current situation in Armenia, as well as Armenia-Diaspora relations. Ā Ā Ā
Thursday, November 11th, 2021, Dr. Ian Collard, the British Ambassador to Lebanon, visited His Holiness Catholicos Aram I. During the course of the meeting, they discussed matters concerning the Middle East and Lebanon, and underlined the imperative of supporting Lebanon in the political, economic and humanitarian spheres, as well as for the government to…
Christlicher Hilfsbund Im Orient, a German humanitarian association, celebrated its 125th jubilee. On this occasion, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I extended a pontifical letter and expressed his appreciation to the association for providing humanitarian assistance to the Armenian people. Ā During the Armenian Genocide, and in particular in response to the Hamidian Massacres in the…
“Il faut vivre le calvaire mais par la vision de la rĆ©surrection” Sa SaintetĆ© Aram ler Ā Catholicos de la Grande maison de Cilicie, Aram Ier nous prĆ©sente sur cinq pages plus de cinquante ans de vie dĆ©diĆ©e au dialogue oecumĆ©nique et au service de lāĆglise apostolique armĆ©nienne. Propos recueillis par Ivan karageorgiev …
On Friday, November 5th, 2021, a homage was paid to the late Metropolitan Damaskinos of Andrianople at the Orthodox Centre of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in ChambĆ©sy, Geneva. On this occasion, His Holiness Catholicos Aram Iās message was read by Prof. Teny Pirri-Simonian. Having closely known the late Metropolitan, His Holiness shed light on his…
On Wednesday, November 3rd, a meeting was held between His Holiness Catholicos Aram I and Dr. Harald Rein, Bishop of the Old Catholic Church in Switzerland, in Geneva. The aim of the visit was to examine the course of the ongoing discussions between the two Churches on contemporary socio-ethical issues, as well as the possibilities…
The AnglicanāOriental Orthodox International Commission held its yearly gathering virtually, from October 26th to the 28th, 2021. The members of the commission shared their reports and updates. The meeting focused mainly on continuing the work on the draft of the current working document of the commission, entitled āThe Inheritance of Ecumenical Councils in the Church.ā…
On Tuesday, November 2nd, 2021, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I received Rev. Dr. Dirk Lange, Assistant General Secretary for Ecumenical Relations of the Lutheran World Federation, to discuss the possibilities of establishing a theological dialogue between the two Churches. Ā In attendance to the meeting was Prof. Teny Pirri-Simonian, the Catholicosateās Ecumenical Representative in Geneva.…
On Monday, November 1st, 2021, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I received the acting general secretary of the World Council of Churches Dr. Ioan Sauca, in Geneva. In attendance was Prof. Teny Pirri-Simonian, the Catholicosateās Ecumenical Representative in Switzerland. Dr. Sauca outlined the challenges faced by the WCC and the ecumenical world. He also briefed…
On Sunday, October 31st, 2021, His Holiness Aram I received Antoine Laham, the Assistant to the Special UN Envoy to Syria, during his stay in Geneva. Laham welcomed His Holiness in Geneva on behalf of the Special UN Envoy to Syria, and discussed issues pertaining to the current situation in Syria, the possibilities of…
His Holiness Catholicos Aram I gave an interview to UnitĆ© des ChrĆ©tiens, a French ecumenical journal, and voiced his opinions and concerns on the current ecumenical scene. In his reply to the questions, His Holiness stated that the ecumenical movement has lived a decline in the last decade. For this, His Holiness recommended the…
Ā His Holiness Catholicos Aram I focused on the imperative of strengthening tolerance in the ecumenical dialogue in his article for the special volume dedicated to Christian-Muslim dialogue. The special edition volume is the initiative of the Argentinian State and brought to fruition by His Holiness Pope Francis. Ā During his pontifical visits to Egypt,…
With the blessing of His Holiness Catholicos Aram I and the assistance of the Catholicosate of Cilicia, St. George church and Homenetmen playground in Aleppo are under renovation with donations from the Armenian Prelacy of the Eastern United States. Following the Syrian Crisis, the revival of the Armenian Communities in Syria has become a…
On Saturday, October 23rd, 2021, a meeting took place between His Holiness Catholicos Aram I and Dr. Joanna Wronecka, the UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon. Ā The Special Coordinator informed His Holiness on UNās concerns and proposals regarding Lebanon. In turn, the Catholicos briefed on the structure of the Armenian community in Lebanon and underlined…
On behalf of the Catholicosate of Cilicia, the Prelate of Lebanon H.E. Archbishop Shahe Panossian and Vicar of Venezuela H.E. Archbishop Gomidas Ohanian participated in the inauguration ceremony of the Armenian Catholic Patriarch His Beatitude RaphaĆ«l Bedros XXI, held at Saint Elias and Saint Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral, on Sunday morning, October 24th, 2021. …
On Friday, October 22nd, 2021, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I received Mauricio Alice, Ambassador of Argentine to Lebanon. The main aim of the visit was to express gratitude on behalf of the Argentinian State for His Holinessās contribution with an article to the special edition volume dedicated to Pope Francis. They also discussed matters…
The class of 2021 of the Khatcher Kalousdian Pedagogical Center paid a visit of gratitude to His Holiness Catholicos Aram I for his constant support and guidance, on Wednesday, October 20th, 2021. The Center offers teacher training programs based on a curriculum of diverse courses and prepares its students for Technical Baccalaureate Diploma, Superior Technician…
On Wednesday, October 20th, the newly formed āTheological and Ecumenical Committeeā of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) held its first meeting virtually, presided by the Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs and with members representing different churches in the Middle East. V. Rev. Fr. Sarkis Aprahamian participated in the meeting on behalf of the…
Source: Hayastan All Armenian Fund Thanks to the efforts of the Hayastan All Armenian Fundās US partner, Armenia Fund Inc, $1 million was raised and transferred to the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia to meet the urgent social needs of the Armenian community and support Armenian educational institutions in Lebanon. The fundraising…
The Conference of Secretaries of Christian World Communions held its yearly meeting virtually from October 12th to the 14th, 2021. The ecumenical officers of each respective church family and communion shared their reports and updates. The executive session of the conference elected its new chair for the upcoming term, and finalized the details of the…
Following their election for a one-year term, the committee of the Armenian Church University Students Association (ACUSA), headed by their newly appointed spiritual advisor V. Rev. Fr. Zaven Najarian, visited His Holiness Aram I to receive his blessing, and present their agenda for the upcoming year. Ā
On Tuesday, October 12th, 2021, a meeting was held between His Holiness Aram I and His Beatitude RaphaĆ«l Bedros XXI, at the Armenian Catholic Patriarchate, in Beirut. Ā His Holiness warmly congratulated His Beatitude on his election as head of the Armenian Catholic Church and expressed hope of continued fraternal cooperation between the two Churches.…
As per tradition at the Catholicosate of Cilicia, on the Feast of the Holy Translators, the Divine Liturgy is officiated by the Dean of the Seminary at St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral, in Antelias, followed by a celebration in the Main Hall of the Catholicosate to mark the opening of the academic year of the…
His Holiness Aram I presented Rev. Fr. Mesrob Kerkezian with a letter of blessing to honor the priestās distinguished life-time of service to the Armenian Church. The event was held on Friday, October 8th, 2021, at St. Mary Monastery in Bikfaya, following the Eve of the Feast of Holy Translators service. Ā In the opening…
His Holiness Catholicos Aram I paid an official congratulatory visit to the newly-elected Spiritual Head(Sheikh al-Aql) of the Lebanese Druze community Sheikh Sami Abial-Mona, at the communityās headquarters in Beirut, on Thursday, October 7th, 2021. His Holiness extended his warm wishes to the Spiritual Leader and expressed hope that the Sheikh al-Aql will not…
On Monday, October 4th, 2021, the Armenian Theological Seminary held its faculty meeting prior to the start of the 2021-2022 academic year, chaired by His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, and attended by the Dean of the Seminary V. Rev. Fr. Barouyr Shernezian, as well as supervisors V. Rev. Fr. Kevork Karageozian and V. Rev. Fr.…
The presentation of the musical collection (two volumes) of the Armenian composer and conductor Parsegh Ganatchian (1885-1967) was held in Yeravan, Armenia, on Friday evening, October 1st, 2021. The volumes were initially launched at the Catholicosate of Cilicia in in 2019, and having attracted the attention of the musical society in Armenia, a special event…
On Thursday, September 30th, 2021, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, accompanied by Cilician brothers, paid an official visit to the Syriac Catholic Patriarch His Beatitude Mar Ignatius Youssef III Younan on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of His Beatitudeās priesthood ordination. During the visit, they touched upon the historical relations between the two…
On Monday, September 27th, 2021, the Director of the National Library of Armenia Anna Chulian and the director of the Cilicia Library H.E. Archbishop Shahan Sarskissian signed a memorandum of understanding and cooperation. The memorandum aims to ensure wide collaboration in organizing exhibitions and conferences, in exchanging digitized copies of Armenian media, in organizing exchange…
On September 27, 2020, Artsakh was attacked by Azerbaijan, and as a result more than 5000 Armenians were martyred, at least 200 were captured as POWs and hundreds are reported missing until this day, apart from losing our historical lands. This day leaves Armenians around the world in immense agony. The memory of the…
On Thursday, September 23rd, 2021, George Boujikian, Lebanon’s new Minister of Industry in the recently formed government and who is of Armenian descent, paid his first visit to His Holiness Catholicos Aram I to receive his blessing. Minister Boujikian gave a brief outline of his work following his appointment. In turn, His Holiness expressed…
On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Armenia, prayer for the Republic was offered during the Divine Liturgy at St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral, presided by His Holiness Aram I, on Sunday, September 19th, 2021. During the Divine Liturgy, the Catholicos ascended the altar with a pontifical…
On Saturday, September 18th, 2021, Berge Setrakian ā President of the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU), and Gerard Tufenkjian ā President of AGBU Lebanon, visited His Holiness Aram I in his summer residence in Bikfaya. During the meeting, issues pertaining to Lebanon and Armenia were discussed, especially regarding the challenges faced by the Lebanese…
More than at any other time, the world, which is marked by increasing tensions, polarizations and crises of diverse nature and scope, is in dire need of healing. Healing is achieved through dialogue, mutual understanding and acceptance, and common commitment to ethical values and human rights. Religion may play a pivotal role in building ethically…
The preparation of the grape molasses by the seminarians is a beautiful tradition that involves harvesting the grapes, extracting the juice, cooking and making the molasses while singing Armenian traditional songs, in the vineyard of the Armenian Theological Seminary. On Thursday, September 9th, 2021, His Holiness visited the sight and participated in the making…
The Khatchig Babikian Fund Committee held their meeting on September 14th, in Bikfaya, presided by His Holiness Catholicos Aram I. The meeting was chaired Yervant Pamboukian. Also present were Shahan Kandaharian, Giro Manoyan (through video conference), and Khatchig Dedeyan. Ā His Holiness commended the book presentation of ā100th Anniversary of the Republic of Armenia: Conference…
On Saturday, September 11th, 2021, His Holiness Aram I received the Bourdj Hamoud Municipality Council, headed by Mayor Mardig Boghosian. The aim of the visit was to express gratitude to His Holiness on behalf of the municipality and its population for allocating 4 million US dollars for the Bourdj Hamoud housing project.
On Friday, September 10th, 2021, His Holiness Aram I received the newly elected Regional Committee of the Hamazkayin in Lebanon, at his summer residence in Bikfaya. Ā The committee briefed His Holiness on their forthcoming projects and discussed issues related to the cultural life and their challenges. In turn, His Holiness commended their efforts and…
The Executive Council of the Armenian Sanatorium of Azounieh Board of Trustees visited His Holiness Aram I, on Wednesday, September 8th, 2021, and briefed him on their recent activities. Ā His Holiness commended their work as well as praised the consistent contribution of the New York Board of Trustees to the Sanitorium, especially during these…
His Holiness Catholicos Aram I delivered his pontifical message to the Lebanese Armenian community on Sunday, September 5, following Divine Liturgy, celebrated at Sts. Vartanantz Armenian Church, in Bourdj Hamoud. Ā In his message, His Holiness said that the Catholicosate will always be there for the people who need it, āwherever there is a struggle…
On Tuesday, August 31st, 2021, a consultation meeting on humanitarian assistance to our community in Lebanon was held between H.E. Archbishop Anoushavan Tanielian – Prelate of the Eastern Prelacy of the USA, H.G. Bishop Torkom Donoyan ā Prelate of the Western Prelacy of the USA, and H.E. Archbishop Shaheh Panossian – Prelate of Lebanon, in…
His Holiness Aram I addressed a special letter to the Prelates of the Eastern and Western Prelacies of the United States, Archbishop Anoushavan Tanielian and Bishop Torkom Donoyan, and the Executive Councils, requesting the PrelatesÕ presence at the monastery of Antelias to further their awareness of the plight of the Lebanese Armenian community and give…
On Sunday evening, August 22nd, 2021, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I chaired the meeting of the Armenian Theological Seminaryās Dean and the board of supervisors in Bikfaya to discuss academic strategies and projects towards the mission and vision of the Seminary for the upcoming academic year. The main topics of the meeting included the…
On Wednesday evening, August 18th, 2021, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I met with Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) Bureau member Hagop Khatcherian and ARF Western United States Central Commitee Chairperson Daron Der Khatchadourian. They discussed issues pertaining to the Armenian Diaspora, in particular to the Armenians of California and to the efforts carried out to support…
Ā On Tuesday, August 17th, 2021, His Holiness Aram I received the the president of the AGBU Lebanon Gerard Tufenkjian. Ā During the meeting, the president briefed His Holiness on the activities and the upcoming projects of the Union in Lebanon, while Aram I expressed his hope that the Catholicosate and the AGBU maintain…
On Saturday morning, August 14th, the Polish Ambassador to Lebanon PrzemysÅaw NiesioÅowski, accompanied by the Consul and the head of the Ministry of Culture of Poland, as well as Matchey Boghosovitch, representative of the Polandās Armenian community, visited His Holiness Aram I. Ā The guests and His Holiness discussed matters concerned to Lebanon-Poland relations and…
On Saturday, August 14th, His Holiness Aram I presided over the Feast of the Assumption of The Virgin Mary and the pilgrimage day of St. Mary Monastery. Ā Despite Lebanonās multilayered crisis, the faithful were gathered at the Monastery, and many were following only to ask for the Holy Motherās intercession to her Son Jesus…
On Friday, August 13th, 2021, His Holiness Aram I received the Ambassador of Armenia to Lebanon Vahagn Atabekyan and the Ambassador of Lebanon to the Vatican Dr. Farid al-Khazen, respectively. Ā Ā The Ambassador of Armenia and His Holiness discussed issues pertaining to Armeniaās internal affairs and to the Armenia-Diaspora relations, while with the Ambassador…
On Friday, August 13th, 2021, on the occasion of the feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary and the Pilgrimage Day of St. Mary Monastery, blessing of salt and incense took place by the Cilician brothers, and in attendance of the Seminarians and the faithful, in Bikfaya. Ā It is noteworthy to mention that…
The Executive Committee of MECC held its meeting online on August 3rd, 2021. H.G. Bishop Mesrob Sarkissian ā the chair of the Gulf churches Fellowship ā and Dr. Jean Salmanian ā member of the Ecumenical Committee of the Catholicosate and member of ExComm of the MECC ā participated in the meeting on behalf of the…
On Monday, August 9th, 2021, His Holiness Aram I sent letters to the Prime Minister, the President and the Archbishop of Greece expressing his sorrow and concern regarding the devastating fire currently raging across Greece, and offering his prayers for the victims of the wildfires.
On Tuesday, August 3rd, 2021, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I received the following guests respectively: Ā -The director and administrative board of Labora, a Christian humanitarian NGO -The committee of Masis Sports Association -H.E. Archbishop Khoren Doghramadjian, the Pontifical Vicar of Cyprus -Carla Khijoyan, Programme Executive for the Middle East at the World Council of…
His Holiness Aram I is invited as a keynote speaker at the G20 Interfaith Forum. Catholicos Aram I will speak about: āThe role of religious leaders and institutions in responding to crisis in the Arab Regionā. Ā The G20 Interfaith Forum will take place between September 12-14, 2021 in Bologna, Italy. Participants include religious leaders,…
On Monday, July 26th, 2021, the Hamazkayin Art Schoolsā Summer Program students and teachers visited His Holiness Aram I, at St. Mary Monastery in Bikfaya, to receive his blessings. Ā In a friendly atmosphere, the students described to His Holiness their activities at the summer camp, and His Holiness, in turn, shared with them how…
On Monday, July 12th, 2021, His Holiness Aram I received Simon Karam, Lebanonās former ambassador to Washington. The main purpose of the visit was to discuss the evaluation of His Holiness of the recent Vatican meeting. Ā Aram I gave a brief account and emphasized Vaticanās and a number of countriesā full support to Lebanon.…
On Sunday, July 11th, 2021, the Feast of the Transfiguration of our Lord Jesus Christ was marked at St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral in Antelias. His Holiness Aram I presided over the Divine Liturgy celebrated by His Eminence Archbishop Shahan Sarkissian. Archbishop Shahan focused his sermon on the epistle to the Ephesians (5:14) and…
On Friday, July 9th, 2021, His Holiness Aram I received Elie Ferzli, the Deputy Speaker, Jean Aziz, former communication officer of the Presidential Palace, Dr. Abdallah Bou Habib, former Lebanese Ambassador to Washington, and Habib Aphram, the president of Lebanon’s Syriac League, accompanied by Hagop Pakradouni, Lebanese MP and head of the Armenian Bloc. …
On the evening of Thursday, July 8, 2021, under the auspices of H.G. Bishop Torkom Donoyan, Prelate, the Executive Council organized a special dinner in honor of Mr. & Mrs. Garo and Sosse Eshgian, in recognition of his many years of service to the Western Prelacy, our churches and schools, as well as his philanthropic…
On Wednesday, July 7th, His Holiness Aram I paid a brotherly visit to His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II. Ā The two spiritual heads of the churches surrounded by their archbishops, bishops and archimandrites had an exchange of views related to the long-standing collaboration between their churches and nations. They emphasized the need to…
On Wednesday, July 7th, 2021, His Holiness Aram I received His Eminence Archbishop Levon Zekiyan, the Armenian Catholic Archbishop of Constantinople and Turkey. During the meeting, they discussed issues pertaining to the recent meeting of the Lebanese Christian leaders in the Vatican, as well as to the election of a new patriarch for the Armenian…
The Central Committee of the World Council of Churches, the highest decision-making body of the WCC, convened via video meeting from June 23rd to the 29th. Over 200 committee members and participants joined the meeting. Two members of the central committee participated on behalf of the Catholicosate: V. Rev. Fr. Hrant Tahanian, Ecumenical Officer of…
Today in a personal letter to His Holiness Pope Francis, Catholicos Aram I wished him āa good convalescence and speedy recoveryā from a surgery that the Pope underwent yesterday. Ā Referring to the meeting of the Christian spiritual leaders In Vatican on 1st July, His Holiness Aram described it as a ālandmark eventā. He said:…
