Armenian Church Fathers have described the Great Lent as the “Powerful Gate,” constructed through self-introspection and abstinence, in anticipation of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. For the Fathers, the Great Lent is an invitation to engage in spiritual quest. According to Gregory of Datev, “the spirit is cleansed by tears serving as hot water and…
On Friday, March 1st, 2019, a group of United Armenian College elementary students visited His Holiness Aram I to celebrate Poun Paregentan (the Eve of the Great Lent). They were wearing different costumes and had brought with them the traditional Poun Paregentan treats. His Holiness welcomed the children in the Main Hall of the…
Under the auspices of His Holiness Aram I and organized by the Christian Education Department of the Catholicosate of Cilicia, the two-day Inter-Diocesan Christian Education Conference convened on the morning of February 1st, 2019, in Antelias. The participants of the conference were representatives of Christian education departments of the Catholicosate’s prelacies constituting the Christian Education…
On Thursday morning, February 28th, 2019, the feast of St. Vartanants was marked at St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral in Antelias with a Divine Liturgy and a special ceremony at the Main Hall of the Catholicosate. The Divine Liturgy was presided over by His Holiness Aram I and celebrated by Bishop Torkom Donoyan, the Vicar…
The publishing house of the Catholicosate of Cilicia released the French translation of His Holiness Aram I’s book “The Armenian Church” under the title “L’Église Armenienne.” The book provides an overview of the Armenian Church’s history, faith, witness, confession, liturgy and mission. Note that other translations are in process.
In anticipation to the first ever Taizé Youth Gathering in Lebanon (March 22-26), the organizers (MECC and the Churches in Lebanon) are holding monthly Ecumenical Prayers. The Ecumenical prayer of February was hosted on Friday, February 22nd, 2019, by the Armenian Orthodox Church, in St Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral, Antelias. Hundreds of youth of…
On Sunday, February 24th, 2019, following the Divine Liturgy, the clergy and the faithful moved to the Zarehian Mausoleum, where His Holiness Aram I presided over the memorial service in memory of deceased clergy of the Catholicosate of Cilicia.
On February 19th, 2019, His Holiness Aram I received the Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to Lebanon H.E. Dr. Hamad Saeed Al-Shamsi. Present at the meeting was also Bishop Mesrob Sarkissian, the Catholicosal Vicar of the UAE and Qatar. During the meeting, they talked about the current situation in Lebanon, especially after the formation of the new government, as well as about…
On February 18th, 2019, His Holiness Aram I departed for Armenia for a three-day visit where he will have meetings with the President of Republic of Armenia, the Prime Minister and the Catholicos Karekin II.
On February 16th and 17th, a group of Armenian youth coming from various communities of the Armenian Diaspora gathered in Antelias for a Youth Assembly to discuss topics related to challenges faced by Armenian youth and potential solutions. Bishop Mesrob Sarkissian chaired the Assembly and V. Rev. Bedros Manuelian and V. Rev. Zareh Sarkissian co-directed the sessions. …
“Facing New Horizons” is the latest publication of His Holiness Aram I. It consists of excerpts from the Catholicos’ pontifical messages and articles, which tackle topics about the Armenian Church, the Armenian people and the Armenian Diaspora, as well as issues related to the Armenian Cause
On Sunday, February 17th, 2019, His Holiness Aram I decorated the renowned Armenian composer Tigran Mansurian with the Knight of Cilicia insignia. Zakar Keshishian, conductor and performer of duduk & Shvi, delivered the opening speech and presented the life and legacy of the famed composer. His Holiness Aram I addressed the audience and spoke of the…
On February 14th, Armenia’s Ambassador to Lebanon Vahagn Atabekyan visited His Holiness Aram I in Antelias. The visit came after the Ambassador had returned from Armenia and it was an opportunity to talk about Armenia’s internal affairs, the new government program, Armenia-Diaspora relations, and issues pertaining Lebanese affairs.
On February 13th, 2019, the eve of the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus Christ to the Temple was celebrated at St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral. His Holiness presided over the special service, where Antasdan (Blessing of the Four Corners of the World), presenting the children to the altar for blessing, and the traditional bonfire…
On February 12th, Tigran Mansurian, the famed Armenian composer arrived to the Catholicosate of Cilicia and was received by His Holiness Aram I. Mansurian will be the guest of the Catholicosate this week, and will pay visits to the Birds’ Nest, Armenian Genocide Orphans’ “Aram Bezikian” Museum, St. Mary’s Monastery and the Armenian Theological…
On the occasion of declaring 2019 the Year of the Armenian Media, the Catholicosate of Cilicia is organizing an all-Armenian conference, which will be held on July 2nd to 4th, 2019, in Antelias. Editors and media personalities from Armenia, Artsakh and the Armenian Diaspora will participate at the conference. The topics will include challenges of…
On Wednesday, February 6th, 2019, His Holiness Aram I extended a letter of appreciation to the French President Emmanuel Macron on the occasion of declaring April 24 National Day for the Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide in France. In the letter, His Holiness stressed that this step is a manifestation of President Macron’s commitment…
On February 3rd and 4th, 2019, an international conference entitled “Human Fraternity” was held in Abu Dhabi under the patronage of the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, and under the auspices of Pope Francis and Dr. Ahmad Al-Tayeb, Grand Imam of the Al-Azhari Al-Sharif. Archbishop Sebouh Sarkissian and Bishop Mesrob Sarkissian participated in the conference…
From January 26th to February 1st, 2019, the 16th Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Oriental Orthodox Churches was held in the Vatican. Bishop Magar Ashkarian and V. Rev. Boghos Tinkjian represented the Catholicosate of Cilicia at the Dialogue. Participants discussed marriage, divorce, and mixed marriage, both in…
On Sunday, February 3rd, 2019, His Holiness Aram I decorated archeologist Prof. Levon Nordiguian with the “St. Mesrob Mashdots” Insiginia. The event was attended by the president and faculty of St. Joseph University, as well as guests from the Armenian, Lebanese, and French academic and intellectual communities. The Pontifical Encyclical was read after Christine Babikian…
His Holiness Aram I is closely following the situation in Venezuela and the difficulties faced by the Venezuelan Armenian community. In recent telephone conversations, Archbishop Gomidas Ohanian and Rev. F. Vahridge Gharakhanian briefed the Catholicos from Caracas. His Holiness Aram I said that he continues to pray for the safety of the people and hopes…
On Saturday, February 2nd, His Holiness Aram I received the newly appointed minister of Social Affairs, Dr. Richard Kouyoumjian, who was accompanied by the Regional Committee of the Armenian Democratic Liberal Party. Dr. Kouyoumjian received His Holiness’ received his blessing and they discussed the current state of the Lebanese government.
On Thursday, 31st of January 2018, His Holiness Aram I received the Governor of Beirut, Ziad Chebib, who was accompanied by Aram Malian, member of the Beirut Municipal Council. Governor Chebib briefed His Holiness about the forthcoming plans and projects of the Beirut Municipality. His Holiness commended the efforts of the governor and his administration…
On Friday, January 25th, 2019, The Armenian University Graduates’ Association had its meeting and planned their forthcoming events. These meetings are held on the last Friday of each month. For those interested to join, kindly contact the chairperson Hagop Handian by calling 03-325779.
On Saturday, January 26th, His Holiness Aram I decorated Dr. Krikor Doumanian’s widow, Ms. Metti Doumanian, with the “Knight of Cilicia” Insignia. The philanthropist Dr. Doumanian has been a close friend of the Catholicosate, Birds’ Nest Orphanage, as well as Western Prelacy of the Armenian Church (USA). Present at the event were Archbishop Moushegh…
The conclusion of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity in Lebanon took place at St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral on January 27th, 2019, in Antelias. His Holiness Aram I presided over the ceremony, and present were leaders from different Christian churches and denominations, as well as the faithful. Spiritual fathers, the Armenian Theological…
On January 22 and 23, 2019, the Middle East Council of Churches held its Executive Committee’s sessions at the Patriarchal Residence of the Syriac Orthodox Church in Atchaneh, Lebanon. The Prelate of Tehran Archbishop Sebouh Sarkissian and Prof. Jean Salmanian participated on behalf of the Armenian Church, Catholicosate of Cilicia. Dr. Souraya Bechealany, Acting…
On Saturday, January 26th, 2019, His Holiness Aram I received Garo Paylan, the Armenian deputy of the Turkish Parliament. Paylan was accompanied by Alexan Keoshgerian, member of the Central Committee of the Social-Democrat Hunchakian Party, and Mardig Jamgochian, the chairperson of the Lebanon Regional Committee of the same party. During the meeting, among others,…
On Thursday, January 24th, 2019, the Secretary-General of the Lebanese Phalangist Party, Nazar Najarian, visited His Holiness Aram I, in Antelias. The Catholicos and Mr Najarian discussed a resolution put forth to the Parliament by the Lebanese Phalangist Party and the Armenian Revolutionary Federation. The resolution declares April 24th as the National Remembrance Day of…
The Week of Prayer for Christian unity in Lebanon will conclude on January 27th, 2018, at 6pm, at St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral in Antelias. His Holiness Aram I will preside over the ceremony, which will be attended by leaders from different Christian churches and denominations.
On Friday evening, January 18th, His Holiness Aram I surprised the students of the Armenological department of the Catholicosate of Cilicia with his visit. Jirayr Tanielian, the director of the department, and prof. Ashod Melkonian, who has come to Antelias from Armenia as a guest lecturer, accompanied His Holiness. Aram I and the students…
On Thursday, January 17th, 2018, His Holiness Aram I received Bishop of Syrian Orthodox Church in Lebanon George Saliba accompanied by Archbishop Nareg Alemezian, the Prelate of Lebanon. They discussed topics such as strengthening the cooperation between the two sister churches and the participation of the oriental orthodox churches in the theological dialogues,…
On Tuesday, January 15th, 2019, His Holiness Aram I received a delegation from the Middle East Council of Churches, composed of the General Secretary Dr. Souraya Bechealany and member of the executive committee Dr. Jean Salmanian, as well as directors from various MECC departments. The delegation briefed His Holiness on their recent projects in economical,…
On Monday, January 14th, 2019, His Holiness Aram I sent a letter of congratulations to the Prime Minister of Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan on the occasion of his appointment. His Holiness also congratulated Ararat Mirzoyan, the newly elected Speaker of the National Assembly of Armenia.
On the occasion of declaring 2019 the Year of the Armenian Media, consultation sessions with a group of prominent Armenian journalists were held in Antelias preparing for the Pan-Armenian conference on Media to be held in Antelias in April 2019. Present at the first meeting were the President of the Union of Journalists of…
On Wednesday, January 9th, 2019, His Holiness Aram I received a delegation representing the Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, composed of three members of the executive committee of Amal Movement, and another delegation of the Religious convention of the Muslim communities. The discussion of the meetings involved the Lebanese current situation and Christian-Muslim cooperation.…
On Friday, January 11th, His Holiness Aram I received a delegation representing the Lebanese Army Command, who congratulated the Lebanese Armenian community on the occasion of the Armenian Christmas and expressed best wishes. The visit was also an opportunity to discuss issues concerning the security in Lebanon. They talked about the role and the…
On Thursday, January 10th, 2019, two French Armenian Armenologists Professors Claude Moutafian and Raymond Kevorkian visit His Holiness Aram I. During the visit they discussed the contemporary challenges that the Armenian Studies faces. His Holiness stressed the importance of paying special attention to the field and stated that the Catholicosate of Cilicia, through its…
On January 8th, 2018, the Armenian Catholic Patriarch Krikor Bedros XX Ghabroyan, accompanied by Bishop Kevork Assadourian, the Vicar General of the Armenian Catholic Patriarchate in Lebanon, Bishop Manuel Batakian and V. Rev. Sebouh Garabedian, the director of the Communication Department, paid a Christmas visit to His Holiness Aram I. Present at the meeting were…
A consultation on “Religions in OBOR,” entitled “The Silk Road (OBOR): Remembering the Old and Thinking of the New, was held at the Armenian Church, Catholicosate of Cilicia on Monday, January 7th, 2019. His Holiness Aram I presided over the consultation, which was initiated by Minzu University of the China (University of Minorities) and the…
On Sunday, January 6th, 2019, the Armenian Orthodox Christmas Divine Liturgy was presided over and celebrated by The Catholicos, His Holiness Aram I, at St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral in Antelias. The Shnorhali Choir, conducted by Rev. Fr. Zaven Najarian, sang the Liturgy. The faithful were joined at the service by Lebanese Armenian political…
Under the high patronage of His Holiness Aram I, the “Shnorhali” choir of the Catholicosate of Cilicia held its Christmas Concert dedicated to the 45th anniversary of its establishment, on Friday, January 4th, at St. Joseph Church in Monot. Rev. Fr. Zaven Najarian had chosen a repertoire of 18 hymns and Christmas songs in…
On Thursday, January 3rd, 2019, His Holiness had the following meetings consecutively: 1) The representative of Syria’s Grand Mufti Ahmad Badreddin Hassoun. The representative delivered a letter to His Holiness on behalf of the Grand Mufti inviting him to Damascus. His Holiness expressed his salute and informed him that he will pay a visit to…
On Thursday, January 3rd, 2019, His Holiness Aram I received the Senior Pastor of the National Evangelical Church of Beirut Rev. Dr. Habib Badr and Lebanese MP Rev. Dr. Edgard Traboulsi. They discussed issues concerning the current situation in Lebanon, focusing on matters regarding the Christian communities. His Holiness underlined the imperative of strengthening…
During the last week, His Holiness Aram I had the followings meetings: With Dr. Michel Nseir from the World Council of Churches, special focus on the Middle East. Dr. Nseir briefed his Holiness on the recent updates concerning reconstruction of Syria and they exchanged concerns and suggestions. His Holiness stressed the imperative of the reorganizing…
On Saturday, December 27th, 2018, His Holiness Aram I held a phone conversation with the President of the Republic of Armenia Armen Sarkissian and the Acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. They exchanged Christmas and New Year’s wishes. Also, His Holiness discussed with them the actual issues pertaining the Armenia-Diaspora cooperation.
During Christmas time, by the blessing of His Holiness Catholicos Aram I of the Armenian Church, Holy See of Cilicia, Catholicosate of Cilicia doubles its effort to reach as many people as possible through its social services. Volunteers gathered around the Armenian Church Christian Education Department prepared many gifts, including food, to 170 families in…
On Sunday morning, December 23rd, 2018, His Holiness Aram I presided over the Divine Liturgy at St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral in Antelias, celebrating the feast of St Stephen, the proto deacon and martyr. On this occasion. relics of the saint were taken out from the Cilicia Museum. Bishop Magar Ashkarian celebrated the Holy Liturgy…
On December 21st, 2018, His Holiness Aram I, accompanied by members of the Brotherhood, visited the Armenian Sanatorium of Azounieh on the occasion of Christmas. The Catholicos was received by the director, the board members, the medical corps and the staff, as well as by the residents. The latter had prepared Christmas songs, hymns and…
On December 20th, His Holiness Aram I, accompanied by priests from the Cilician Brotherhood, visited the Birds’ Nest orphans and celebrated with them Christmas. He was met by the director of the school, the members of the Board of Trustees and the Kayanian Sisters. His Holiness joined the children and participated in their program, where…
On Tuesday, December 20th, 2018, His Holiness Aram I received the newly-appointed Ambassador of Armenia to Lebanon H.E. Vahagn Atabekyan, in Antelias. During this introductory meeting, His Holiness Aram I gave a brief account on the mission of the Armenian Church, Catholicosate of Cilicia, the Lebanese Armenians, the Lebanese internal affairs, as well as…
On December 19th, 2018, His Holiness Aram I, accompanied by priests of the brotherhood, paid a Christmas visit to the Armenian Elderly Home in Bourdj Hamoud, where they were received by Rev. Sebouh Terzian, the director of the Home, as well as by the Board of Trustees and the Ladies Auxiliary. The Elderly…
With a special Pontifical Message, His Holiness Aram I proclaimed 2019 the year of the Armenian Media. The tradition of dedicating each year to a specific aspect of the Armenian life started in 2003 and was received by Armenians everywhere with appreciation, since it allows different circles in the Armenian communities to organize various…
On Monday, December 17th, 2018, a delegation representing His Holiness Aram I and the Catholicosate of Cilicia met with the Acting Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia H.E. Nikol Pashinyan, in the Government Building, in Yerevan. The delegation was composed of co-chairs of the Central Committee of the Catholicosate, Mr. Stepan Der Bedrossian and…
On Friday, December 14th, 2018, the Feast of St. James of Nisibis was celebrated at the Catholicosate of Cilicia during which the Blessing of the Four Corners of the World (Antasdan) was performed with the relics of St James of Nisibis and St. Nicholas Wonderworker taken out from the Cilicia Museum. His Holiness Aram I…
On Tuesday, December 11th, Bishop Masis Zoboyan, Prelate of Kuwait and the Neighboring Countries, represented the Catholicosate of Cilicia at the Paris International Conference on “Ending Discrimination Against Christians and Minorities in the Orient,” organized by the Coordination of Christians of the Orient in Danger (CHREDO). In his presentation, Bishop Zoboyan underlined that extremism…
On Sunday, December 9th, 2018, His Holiness Aram I presided over the requiem service held at St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral in Antelias for the souls of the victims who fell during the devastating earthquake in Spitak, Armenia, 30 years ago, and for Armenia and all Armenians around the world.
On Saturday, December 1st, 2018, His Holiness Aram I had a meeting with the architects of the Catholicosate at St. Mary’s Monastery, in Bikfaya, to inquire about the three main construction projects taking place on the premises: the Episcopal residence and guesthouse, a recreation ground for the seminarians, and a new engraving on the fence…
On Thursday, November 29th, 2018, His Holiness Aram I presided over the meeting of the Committee in Protection of the Western Armenian Language, in Antelias. The Committee, chaired by Yervant Pamboukian, discussed, among others, the Western Armenian Spelling Guideline it has designed. After it is finalized by the committee members across the Armenian Diaspora,…
On Monday, November 26th, His Holiness Aram I sent condolences letter to the Iranian President Hasan Rouhani following deadly earthquake that hit Iran’s Kermanshah province and took the lives of hundreds of people.
On Friday, November 23rd, 2018, The Catholicosate of Cilicia hosted mountaineer and runner Ara Khatchadourian at the Armenian Theological Seminary in Bikfaya. Khatchadourian had climbed, among others, Mounts Ararad and Everest and crossed 4550 km from Marseille to Yerevan in 107 days to make a call of peace to the world. In his recent accomplishment…
On different occasions, His Holiness Aram I stresses with great importance the imperative of reorganizing the Armenian Diaspora. Not long ago, during his message at the National General Assembly held in Antelias, and reflecting on his performance at the 6th Pan-Armenian Armenian-Diaspora conference held in Yerevan, His Holiness stated that only through collective efforts can…
Every Wednesday morning, the graduating class at the Armenian Theological Seminary attends 2 hours of theoretical theology and pastoral theology courses lectured by His Holiness Aram I. In fact, the Catholicos has been teaching theology at the Seminary since he was serving as Prelate in Lebanon. Cilicia TV came across His Holiness leaving the…
On Monday morning, November 20th, 2018, His Holiness Aram I, accompanied by Bishop Shahe Sarkissian and V. Rev. Bedros Manuelian, visited the Apostolic Nuncio to Lebanon Arch. Joseph Spiteri at the Apostolic Nunciature in Harissa. The Catholicos expressed his thanks to Pope Francis for joining the 50th anniversary celebration of His Holiness’ ordination to priesthood…
On Monday, November 20th, the Armenian Ambassador to Lebanon Samuel Mkrtchyan paid a farewell visit to His Holiness Aram I. The Catholicos expressed his admiration for the Ambassador’s high level of diplomatic service in Lebanon, especially regarding his cooperation with the Lebanese Armenian community. The meeting also was an opportunity to discuss Armenian-Diaspora relations.
On November 15th, playwright, poet, theater specialist, literary critic, director, and actor Dr. Hrant Markarian visited His Holiness Aram I in Antelias. Dr. Markarian had arrived in Lebanon from New York to perform his play on Khrimian Hayrig. At the meeting, His Holiness and Dr. Markarian, long-time friends, talked about Armenian culture, literature and theatre.
On Tuesday, November 13th, the newly elected committee of the Armenian Democratic Liberal Party visited His Holiness Aram I. The Catholicos congratulated the committee and wished them success in their service. The meeting was also an opportunity to discuss issues pertaining the current situation in Armenia, Lebanon and the Armenia-Diaspora cooperation.
On Monday, November 12th, His Holiness Aram I received the Central Committee Social Democrat Hunchakian Party composed of Prof. Hampig Sarafian, Alex Keoshkerian and Sebouh Kalpakian. During the meeting, they talked about the challenges that Armenia, the Church and the Armenian Diaspora face.
On Sunday, November 11th, 2018, following the Divine Liturgy, His Holiness Aram I inaugurated the 39th Annual Pan-Armenian Book Fair. The main theme of His Holiness’ speech was the values that Armenian books represent for the Armenian people. He stated that any given life should be lived with ethical, moral, intellectual and aesthetic values,…
On November 8th, His Holiness Aram I received the newly elected committee members of the Armenian Church University Students’ Association, accompanied by their newly appointed spiritual advisor Fr. Hovagim Panjarjian. Fr. Hovagim took the opportunity first of all to express his filial gratitude to His Holiness and then presented the members and their future…
On November 8th, His Holiness Aram I received a delegation from the committee of the “Kaspar Ipegian” Theater Company of Hamazkayin accompanied by the “Vardan Adjemian” State Drama Theater of Gyumri (Armenia). The latter was invited to Lebanon by the Theater Company to perform three of their plays: “Wedding in the Rear” dedicated to the April…
On November 8th, 2018, His Holiness Aram I receives the President of the Armenian General Benevolent Union Berge Setrakian. They talked about the situation in the Republic of Armenia, state-church relations and Armenia-Diaspora cooperation.
On October 19th and 20th, 2018, a conference was held in Yerevan, Armenia, dedicated to the 175th anniversary of the Armenian scholarly journal Pazmaveb. The conference was organized by the Republic of Armenia’s Ministry of Diaspora, Armenian National Academy of Science and the Mekhitarists Congregation. Jirayr Tanielian, the director of the Educational-Armenological Center at the…
On November 6th, the newly appointed Iranian Ambassador to Lebanon Mohammad Jalal Firouznia visited His Holiness Aram I in Antelias. They discussed matters concerning cooperation between the Catholicosate of Cilicia and the Islamic Republic of Iran and talked about the situation in the Middle East. His Holiness also stressed the importance of strengthening the…
The Anglican–Oriental Orthodox International Commission held its seventh meeting from October 22nd till 26th, 2018, at the Syriac Orthodox Patriarchal Residence in Atchaneh, Lebanon. Rev. Boghos Tinkjian and V. Rev. Zareh Sarkissian participated at the meeting representing the Catholicosate of Cilicia. After noting the passing of and giving thanks to one of the…
On November 4th, 2018, His Holiness Aram I received the Armenian Catholic Patriarch Krikor Bedros XX Ghabroyan, accompanied by Bishop Kevork Assadourian, the Vicar General of the Armenian Catholic Patriarchate in Lebanon, Bishop Manuel Batakian and V. Rev. Sebouh Garabedian. Present at the meeting were also Archbishop Nareg Alemezian, the Prelate of the Diocese of…
During his official visit to Bern, His Holiness Aram I had official and non official meetings with different ecumenical patriarchs, spiritual and political leaders, as well as a luncheon was organized in his honor by the Old Catholic Church in Bern. His Holiness had the following meetings: A meeting, accompanied by His Holiness’…
On Sunday morning, October 28th, 2018, His Holiness Aram I attended the Divine Liturgy at St. Peter and Paul Cathedral of the Old Catholic Church in Bern, Switzerland, and delivered a sermon to the attendees. Bishop Dr. Harald Rein welcomed His Holiness and invited him to deliver his sermon. In the sermon, His Holiness concentrated…
On Saturday 27 October 2018, on the occasion of his official visit to the Old Catholic Church in Bern, Catholicos Aram I shared his views on the current challenges to the Ecumenical Movement. The lecture followed the evening vespers, at which Reverend Bedros Manuelian and Friar Hovaguim Panjarjian participated. Before addressing the current…
On October 26th, His Holiness Aram I was invited to the University of Bern to deliver a lecture at the Faculty of Theology on “Challenges for the Churches in the Middle East.” After introducing the multicultural and multi-religious aspects of the Middle East, His Holiness suggested having a holistic approach to the issues relating…
On October 24th, His Holiness Aram I, accepting the invitation of the Old Catholic Church in Switzerland, departed to Bern. Within the scope if this official visit, His Holiness will deliver a lecture in the University of Bern, have public statements on inter-church and ecumenical matters, as well as on issues relating to the…
A phone conversation was held between His Holiness Aram I and the President of the Republic of Artsakh Pago Sahakian. The two discussed issues concerning the situation in Artsakh, where His Holiness reaffirmed the high consideration that The Catholicosate of Cilicia and the Armenian Diaspora have for the strengthening of the independence and prosperity of…
A meeting took place between His Holiness Aram I and the President of the Republic of Armenia Mr. Armen Sarkissian, in Geneva. The agenda of their discussion included issues related to the actual situations in Armenia and the collaboration between Diaspora and Armenia. The President once again congratulated the 50th anniversary of the priesthood…
On October 23rd, His Holiness Aram I received the International Commission for Anglican-Orthodox Theological Dialogue. The commission is composed of 18 members, including V. Rev. Boghos Tinkjian and V. Rev. Zareh Sarkissian representing the Catholicosate of Cilicia. Among various topics discussed in the meeting, His Holiness underlined the importance of addressing contemporary socio-ethical issues,…
On Sunday, October 21st, 2018, an official banquet was organized in honor of His Holiness Aram I, dedicated to the 50th anniversary of his ordination to priesthood, in Hotel Le Royal. Krikor Mahseredjian, the co-chair of the Central Council of the National General Assembly delivered the welcoming remarks. Bedo Demirdjian, Advisor to the…
On October 21st, a meeting took place between His Holiness Aram I and the acting Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan, in Antelias. A number of timely issues pertaining to the internal situation in Armenia and Armenia-diaspora relations were discussed during the meeting. They both stressed the vital importance of…
The jubilee of His Holiness Aram I was celebrated at the Catholicosate of Cilicia in Antelias, Lebanon, on Sunday October 21st, 2018. In the morning, His Holiness celebrated the Holy Mass at the Cathedral. The ceremony was attended by Mr. Nikol Pashinyan, the acting Prime Minister of Armenia and the first lady, the representatives…
On Friday, October 19th, 2018, His Holiness Aram I presided over the meeting of the Lay Council of the National General Assembly. Topics related to property and construction, finance and administration, reorganization of the prelacies, relations and cooperation with Armenia and Artsakh, social and humanitarian institutions administered by the Catholicosate, the Armenian district in Fanar…
Under the presidency of His Holiness Aram I, the Religious Council of the National General Assembly of the Catholicosate of Cilicia convened in Antelias, on October 18th, 2018. During the meeting, the following topics were discussed: Christian education, youth involvement in church life, ecumenical and interfaith relations, Armenian Theological Seminary, information and communication relations,…
The opening of the 89th Academic year of the Armenian Theological Seminary took place on Sunday, October 14th, with a Divine Liturgy celebrated by the Dean of the Seminary V. Rev. Boghos Tinkjian, at St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral in Antelias. His Holiness Aram I presided over the Divine Liturgy. Following the service, a…
An international conference on “The Holy Scriptures in a Changing World” was held on September 27th to October 1st, 2018, in Holy Etchmiadzin, Armenia. 40 theologians, representatives from Orthodox churches and United Bible Societies (UBS) were present in the conference to sign the “Memorandum of Understanding and Collaboration between the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Oriental…
On Sunday. October 7th, 2018, requiem service was held at St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral in Antelias for the soul of Charles Aznavour. His Holiness Aram I presided over the service. The last meeting between His Holiness and the international artist was three years ago. Note that the late Catholicos Khoren I had bestowed upon…
On September 2nd, 2018, His Holiness Aram I left for Geneva for a short visit where he will confer with the legal committee of the lawsuit filed by the Catholicosate of Cilicia for the return of its historical seat in Sis. Aram I will also hold a meeting with the Preparatory Committee of the “Silk…
On September 1, 2018, His Holiness Aram I sent a condolence letter to Charles Aznavour’s family on the artist’s demise. In the letter, His Holiness commends the international artist’s legacy and advocacy of the Armenian Cause. His Holiness stated “through the chansons he composed and sang, Charles Aznavour embodied and expressed the French cultural heritage;…
His Holiness Aram I received Samvel Tadevosyan, the director of “Hardev Griv” (The Ongoing Battle) which documents the April 2016 war in Artsakh. The director was accompanied by Giro Karageozian from the Armenian Revolutionary Federation’s Shushi Chapter and Vladimir Boghossian from the Armenian embassy in Lebanon. His Holiness commanded the director for his achievements, particularly…
On September 20th to 22nd, The Regional Committee of the World Student Christian Federation Middle East (WSFC-ME) held its annual meeting at St. Marc Educational Center in Nasr city, Egypt. Garen Yosoulkanian, the chair of the Armenian Christian University Students’ Association (ACUSA), was among the participants. The meeting dedicated its sessions to evaluation of…
On September 22nd, 2018, His Holiness Aram I received Dr. Frank Otfried July, Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Wurttemberg, accompanied by a delegation. His Holiness briefly introduced to the guests the Christian presence and witness in the Middle East, talked about the ecumenical and interfaith relations and stressed the imperative for strengthening…
On September 25th, His Holiness Aram I received H.E. Arch. Levon Zekiyan, the Apostolic administrator of the Armenian Catholic Archepachy of Istanbul and the Mekhitarist Congregation. The meeting was an opportunity to discuss issues related to Armenia, Armenia-Diaspora relations, inter-church collaborations, as well as topics concerning armenology and Armenian culture. His Holiness Aram I…
On Monday, September 24th, His Holiness Aram I held a meeting with the Cilician brotherhood members residing in Antelias. During the meeting, he gave a general account of the summer events organized by the Brotherhood and stressed the imperative of reorganizing and revitalizing the diakonia and service by placing the community needs first. His Holiness…
