On the occasion of the 27th anniversary of the re-independence of the Armenian Republic, Thanksgiving Prayers for the Republic of Armenia took place at St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral in Antelias, on Sunday, September 23rd 2018. His Holiness Aram I presided over the Prayers. Present at the Divine Liturgy were Armenia’s Diaspora Minister Mkhitar Hayrapetyan,…
On September 21st, His Holiness Aram I conducted a work meeting with the Youth Department of the Catholicosate of Cilicia. Present to the meeting were also V. Rev. Bedros Manuelian and V. Rev. Zareh Sarkissian. During the meeting, the members of the Department presented their upcoming program to His Holiness, who in turn expressed his…
On September 14th, V. Rev. Bedros Manuelian, the vice-director of the Armenian Genocide Orphans’ “Aram Bezikian” Museum Committee, represented the Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia on the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute Board of Trustees in Yerevan, Armenia, and participated in the election of new director to the Museum-Institute. Harutyun Marutyan was elected to serve this position. Later,…
In September 2018, Holiness Aram I received the following art and culture experts from Armenia: A. Dr. Ashot Grigorian, Prof. Aram Isabekyan and Prof. Gedig Baghdassarian. They arrived to Antelias upon Catholicos’s invitation to conduct research on placing of sculptures representing important events and symbols in the Armenian history on the premises of the St.…
A group of volunteers from the Christian Education Department worked together for weeks and prepared some church objects, such as handmade veil/curtain of the Holy Altar and other handmade covers. They offered these items to St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral in Antelias.
On September 8th, 2018, His Grace Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian was elected to serve as the new prelate of the Eastern Prelacy of the USA at a special session of the Diocesan National Representative Assembly. His Holiness Aram I ratified the election in a Pontifical letter directed to the Assembly. His Holiness wished the newly…
The Metropolitan Museum of Art of New York City is organizing its first major exhibition on artistic and cultural achievements of the Armenian people in a global context. The Cilicia Museum of the Catholicosate of Cilicia will present a sample of it collections during the exhibition, which will open on September 22nd and continue through…
On September 6th, 2018, His Holiness Aram I received the Lay and the Religious Councils of the Diocesan Council of Lebanon headed by the newly elected Primate of Lebanon H.E. Arch. Nareg Alemezian. His Holiness welcomed the election of the new Primate, as well as the elections of above-mentioned Councils that preceded the election…
The lecture was delivered by Catholicos Aram I on Wednesday at the Near East School of Theology, within the framework of a conference on “Christian Political Theology in the Middle East.” At the outset of his lecture Catholicos Aram I said that in his opinion there is no so-called “political theology.” “Theology is the…
A special exposition dedicated to Jacob Künzler (Papa Künzler), the Swiss eyewitness to the Armenian Genocide, who saved the lives of thousands of Armenian orphans, will take place in the coming months at the Catholicosate of Cilicia. On that account, on September 4th, 2018, a meeting was held at the Catholicosate between representatives from the…
On September 3rd, 2018, His Holiness Aram I received the King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz International Center for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue (KAICIID) committee members in Antelias. During the meeting, His Holiness presented his perspective on the Christian-Muslim dialogue and cooperation, focused on the recent circumstances of the region and answered their questions. In turn,…
On September 2nd, 2018, His Holiness Aram I received Vahram Balayan, the Vice-President of National Assembly of the Republic of Artsakh, accompanied by the Armenian National Committee of Lebanon at St. Mary’s Monastery in Bikfaya. The guests participated in the Divine Liturgy at St. Mary’s chapel and then met with His Holiness. They discussed…
On September 1st, 2018, His Holiness Aram I received the chairpersons of the Lebanese Diocesan National Representative Assembly Mr. Karnig Mgrditchian and Garo Salkhanian as well as the newly elected primate H.E. Arch. Nareg Alemezian and the former Primate Bishop Shahé Panossian. They informed His Holiness of the election and His Holiness endorsed the election…
On Tuesday, August 28th, 2018, during a meeting of the President of Switzerland Mr. Alain Berset with the Christian and Muslim spiritual leaders of Lebanon, His Holiness Aram I stressed the pivotal importance of broadening the collaboration between Switzerland and Lebanon. He welcomed the humanitarian assistance provided to the Palestinian and Syrian refugees in Lebanon,…
On Wednesday, August 29th, 2018, His Holiness Aram I and Mr. Pago Sahakian, the president of the Republic of Artsakh, held a phone conversation, where His Holiness reaffirmed his full support to all the efforts aimed at strengthening the independence of the Republic of Artsakh, considering the preservation of the independence of Artsakh crucial for…
On August 22nd, 2018, His Holiness Aram I has generously received the Royal House of Ghassan headed by HRH Prince Gharios El Chemor of Ghassan Al-Nu’man VIII. Also part of the delegation Mr Antoine Kaladjian, international Director of ecumenical dialogue, Mr. Petro Achkar, Public Relations Manager, and Mr. Carl Doumit, Prince Gharios’ assistant. His Holiness…
On Saturday, August 25th, 2018, His Holiness Aram I received Berge Setrakian, the president of the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU). They discussed the current situation in Armenia and issues regarding the relations between Armenia and the Diaspora.
On August 24th, 2018, His Holiness Aram I visited the Summer Bible Camp organized by the Christian Education Department of the Catholicosate of Cilicia. The Bible Camp is held in “Birds’ Nest” in Jbeil, from August 20th to August 27th. Upon his arrival, His Holiness was received by the participants and welcomed by the Head…
Within the field of meetings with the Armenian Theological Seminary students, this morning, a group of seminarians visited His Holiness Aram I. At a meeting with the seminarians, His Holiness Aram I talked of the pressing challenges to the Church and the Republic of Armenian, and what it means to commit oneself to a vocation…
On Monday evening, August 20th, 2018, Dr. Antoine Chedid, the representative of CHREDO, visited His Holiness Aram I in Bikfaya and invited him to France to a conference about the Christians in the Middle East.
On Monday morning, August 20th, 2018, the former president of the Republic of Lebanon Amine Gemayel visited His Holiness Aram I in Bikfaya. They discussed the recent political, economic and social situation in Lebanon and the Middle East.
On Friday, August 17th, 2018, the participants of the Journalism Seminar from Aztag, the Armenian Lebanese daily newspaper, accompanied by their supervisor Arsho Balian, visited His Holiness Aram I in Bikfaya. The meeting came as a conclusion to the seminar. Before the session, Arsho Balian presented the program to His Holiness and briefed him…
On Monday, August 18th, 2018, His Holiness Aram I visited the renovations taking place in the Armenian Theological Seminary in Bikfaya. The renovations are possible thanks to Mardig Bouldoukian and Raffi Ohanian from the USA. After inspecting the renovations, His Holiness commended the work in progress and expressed his recognition of the efforts of…
On Friday, August 17th, 2018, His Holiness Aram I received representatives of Nabih Berri, the Speaker of the Lebanese Parliament, in Bikfaya. The delegation extended the good wishes of Speaker Nabih Berri on the occasion of the feast of Assumption of the Holy Mother of God to His Holiness, and invited him to the commemoration…
On Friday, August 17th, 2018, His Holiness Aram I received Michel Naser and Nicole Gemayel, the mayors of Saqiet El-Misk and Bikfaya respectively. Present to the meeting were the Dean of the Armenian Theological Seminary V. Rev. Boghos Tinkjian and the supervisor of the Seminary V. Rev. Shnorhk Ashekian. They mayors presented His Holiness…
On Wednesday, August 15th, 2018, His Holiness Aram I received Mr. Bedros Terzian, the acting executive director of Hayastan All Armenian Fund, in Bikfaya. Mr. Terzian briefed His Holiness on the recent consultations he has had with the Armenian President and the Prime Minister, as well as the President of Artsakh, regarding ways to…
On Friday, August 10th, 2018, under the auspices of His Holiness Aram I, the opening ceremony of the renovated “Nouneh and Ninareh Nazarian” library of the Armenian Theological Seminary took place. Present to the ceremony were the benefactors of the renovation Mr. Anoushavan and Mrs. Anahid Nazarian, and their daughters, Nouneh and Ninareh. Delivering…
On Friday evening, August 10th, 2018, the Summer Youth Academy concluded its program with a closing session headed by His Holiness Aram I in Bikfaya. For over two weeks, the Academy, entitled “Thinking Through the Armenian Church: the Anchor of Identity and Compass for Action,” equipped the participants, who had come from the USA and…
On Monday, August 13th, 2018, His Holiness Aram I presided over a requiem service for the repose of the souls of all departed Armenians around the world at St. Mary’s Monastery in Bikfaya. His Holiness prayed for the souls of those who had fallen for the freedom of Armenia, and asked God to protect the…
On Saturday evening, August 11th, 2018, the Armenian Church, Catholicosate of Cilicia celebrated the feast of the Assumption of the Holy Mother of God on the open-air alter of St. Mary’s Monastery in Bikfaya. The Divine Liturgy was presided over by His Holiness Aram I and celebrated by His Grace Bishop Massis Zoboyan, the…
In August, His Holiness Aram I received the deputies of the Civil Contract party Alen Simonian, Lena Nazarian and Hraychya Hagopian, in Bikfaya. The sides discussed the latest situation in Armenia. His Holiness Aram I expressed his thoughts on post-revolution Armenia and commended Pashinyan’s efforts in confirming the rule of law and improving the living…
The Armenian Church celebrates the pilgrimage week of the St. Mary’s Monastery every year during the second week of the month of August. This year, the pilgrimage week was celebrated August 6 through 11, 2018 and it was concluded by the feast of the Assumption of the Holy Mother of God. Under the auspices…
On Thursday, August 9th, 2018, His Holiness Aram I received the Ambassador of Germany to Lebanon H.E. Martin Huth, and his wife at St. Mary’s Monastery in Bikfaya. During the meeting, they discussed issues related to Lebanon’s situation and the process of government formation. Here, they stressed the significant role of the religious leaders…
His Holiness Aram I made this powerful statement at the conclusion of a discussion with the participants of the Summer Youth Academy and members of the Armenian Church University Students Association (ACUSA) in the courtyard of the Catholicosate of Cilicia in Antelias. The session, which was held on Monday evening, 7th August, was broadcast live…
On Monday, July 30th, 2018, around 20 youth coming from the USA and Canada gathered at the Catholicosate of Cilicia to start the Summer Youth Academy, entitled “Thinking Through the Armenian Church: the Anchor of Identity and Compass for Action.” The aim of the Academy, which will run from July 30th to August 11, is…
We are happy to announce that the new building, which is under construction at St. Mary’s Monastery in Bikfaya, will consist of 24 dormitories and a storeroom. The building will serve as an Episcopal Residence and guesthouse. The construction is expected to be completed by Spring 2019. His Holiness Aram I will announce the name…
His Holiness Aram I announced new appointments for four young members of the Cilician Brotherhood as follows: -V. Rev. Hrant Tahanian: Ecumenical Officer and lecturer at the Armenian Theological Seminary. -V. Rev. Hovhannes Saghdejian: Pastor in Northern Greece. -V. Rev. Zareh Sarkissian: Director of the Youth Department, lecturer at the Seminary, as…
The Armenian Church, Catholicosate of Cilicia, participates in the celebrations of Homenetmen’s centennial, in Yerevan, represented by H.E. Arch. Nareg Alemezian and V. Rev. Bedros Manuelian. At the official ceremony, the pontifical encyclical on the centennial was read.
On behalf of His Holiness Aram I, H.E. Arch. Kegham Katcherian, Prelate of Greece, expressed condolences regarding Greece wildfire victims to H.E. Arch. Ieronymos II of Athens, Primate of the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Greece, over a phone conversation held on July 23rd.
On Tuesday morning, July 24th, 2018, His Holiness Aram I received Mr. Antoine Laham, Assistant to the Special UN Envoy to Syria Mr. Staffan de Mistura, at the pontifical residence in Bikfaya. Mr. Laham updated His Holiness about the recent accomplishments of their office in the region and the current situation in Syria. In…
On July 18th, on the occasion of the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, the International Day of Nelson Mandela and the Fifa World Cup Russia 2018, the Global Forum for Religions and Humanity organized a friendly football match in Hammana, Lebanon, between a group of clergy and ulama from across Lebanon. V.…
On July 17th, His Holiness Aram I visited the Birds’ Nest Orphanage in Byblos to inspect the renovation works that have been completed. Thanks to the generous donation of Diana Der Hovsepian from Argentina, the orphans of the Birds’ Nest are now provided with new bedrooms. Der Hovsepian has dedicated her deed to the memory…
On July 16th, 2018, His Holiness Aram I received Farid Elias Al-Khazen, Lebanon’s ambassador to the Vatican, in Bikfaya. One of the aims of the visit was to discuss Vatican’s position on Lebanon and the region. His Holiness gave Dr. Al-Khazen a brief account of the situation, as well as talked about the Christian-Muslim coexistence…
On Thursday, July 12th, 2018, a group of university students coming from various countries of the Middle East and Africa visited His Holiness Aram I in Bikfaya as part of their three-week theological intensive courses. His Holiness Aram I delivered a lecture entitled “The Church and the Society,” underlining that Christianity, in its essence and…
On July 10th, 2018, the director general of ARMENPRESS News Agency Aram Ananyan visited His Holiness Aram I in Bikfaya. Present in the meeting were also chief editors of Lebanese Armenian daily newspapers: Shahan Kandaharian(Aztag), Sevag Hagopian (Zartonk) and Ani Yepremian (Ararad), as well as V. Rev. Bedros Manuelian, head of the Information and Communication…
On July 8th, 2018, upon his return from Bari, Italy, His Holiness Aram I held a phone conversation with Pago Sahakian, the president of the Republic of Artsakh. They discussed the current situation and the challenges of Artsakh. His Holiness expressed his support to the Armenian Army and the people of Artsakh, stressing that…
On July 5th, 2018, a meeting between spiritual leaders was held in Bkerke, with the participation of Catholicos Aram I of the Armenian Church, Holy See of Cilicia, Patriarch Raï of the Maronite Church, Patriarch Aphrem II of the Syriac Orthodox Church, and Patriarch Yonan of the Syriac Catholic Church. The leaders discussed issues…
On Sunday evening, July 1st, 2018, the Executive Committee of the Christian Conference of Asia (CCA) started its meeting at the Armenian Church, Catholicosate of Cilicia, in Antelias, under the auspices of His Holiness Aram I. Alongside the ExCom members of the CCA, present at the meeting was the Acting General Secretary of the Middle…
On Monday, July 2nd, 2018, His Holiness Aram I received François Asselineau, the president of the Popular Republican Union, in his summer seat in Bikfaya. During the meeting, they exchanged their thoughts on the situation in Lebanon and the role of France in the area. His Holiness Aram I stressed the importance of reaffirming…
On Saturday, June 30th, 2018, the members of “Shnorhali” choir of the Catholicosate of Cilicia honored their parents with a special celebration. Rev. Zaven Najarian, the director of the choir opened the evening with his warm speech. He commanded parents’ unconditional love and blessed their devotion to their families. The evening came to an…
On Sunday, July 1st, 2018, the 23rd anniversary of the election and consecration of His Holiness Aram I as Catholicos was celebrated with Pontifical Thanksgiving Prayer at St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral in Antelias, under the auspices of His Holiness Aram I. Pontifical Thanksgiving prayers were also held throughout all the Prelacies of the Holy…
On Friday, June 29th, 2018, the 8th round of Religious Dialogue between the Islamic Culture and Relations Organization (ICRO) and the Armenian Church, Catholicosate of Cilicia, concluded its three-day meeting. His Holiness Aram I, Dr. Abouzar Ebrahimi, , the President of ICRO, and Dr. Mohammad Mahdi Taskhiri, the Director General of Center for interreligious Dialogue…
The 8th round of Religious Dialogue between the Islamic Culture and Relations Organization (ICRO) and the Catholicosate of Cilicia continued its sessions on Thursday, June 28th, 2018. Three sessions were held on day two of the religious dialogue. The guest speakers included Mr. Ardouyd Zohrabian from the Armenian Prelacy of Tehran and Dr. Shahin…
The 8th Round of Religious Dialogue between the Islamic Culture and Relations Organization (ICRO) of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Armenian Church, Catholicosate of Cilicia, under the title “Religions and Environment,” was held at the Catholicosate, in Antelias, from June 27th to June 29th, 2018. The opening ceremony of the three-day program…
On Monday, June 25th, 2018, the President of the Near East School of Theology, Dr. George Sabra, visited His Holiness Aram I, in Bikfaya, and invited him to participate in a conference about church and politics, which will be held in September. The meeting was also an opportunity for Dr. Sabra to present the…
On Saturday, June 23rd, 2018, under the auspices of His Holiness Aram I and sponsored by Mr. and Mrs. Sdepan and Tamar Der Bedrossian, the Armenian Church University Students’ Association marked the 55th anniversary of its establishment with a Gala dinner at Ruby hall in Hotel Le Royal, Dbayye. The Chairperson of the Association Garen…
On Saturday, June 23rd, His Holiness Aram I received Fr. David Nazar, rector of the Pontifical Oriental Institute, in Bikfaya. One of the purposes of the visit was to learn about the challenges that the Christian communities in the Middles East are facing, as well as to consult about certain points regarding the mission of…
On Saturday, June 23rd, 2018, His Holiness Aram I received the newly appointed Apostolic Nuncio to Lebanon Archbishop Joseph Spiteri, in Bikfaya. During the meeting, His Holiness Aram I shared a detailed account of the mission of the Armenian Church, as well as its local situation in Lebanon and in the Middle East. His…
On June 21st 2018, Heads of the Oriental Orthodox Churches in the Middle East: His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of Saint Mark Episcopate, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, and His Holiness Aram I Catholicos of Armenian Church holy see of Cilicia,…
On Friday evening, June 22nd, His Holiness Aram I received His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of Saint Mark Episcopate, and His Holiness Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, at St. Mary’s Monastery in Bikfaya. The three Holy Fathers first offered prayers in front of…
On Tuesday, June 19th, 2018, Berge Setrakian, the President of the Armenian General Benevolent Union, visited His Holiness Aram I. During the meeting, the discussed the current situation in Armenia and exchanged ideas regarding Armenia-Diaspora relations.
On Tuesday, June 19th, 2018, His Holiness Aram I welcomed the participants of the Women’s Bible Study in the Main Hall of the Catholicosate, where more than 100 women had gathered to receive His Holiness’ blessings. The Women’s Bible Study is a weekly gathering taking place at the St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral, under the…
On Sunday morning, June 17th, 2018, the interschool competition of the Educational-Armenological and the Khatchig Babigian Fund took place at the Catholicosate of Cilicia. Out of 122 participants in the following three categories: Armenian language and literature, Armenian history, culture and religion, and poetry reciting, 33 students received awards. Mr. Jirayr Tanielian, the head…
The 88th commencement ceremony of the Armenian Theological Seminary took place on Saturday, June 16th, 2018, in Bikfaya. The ceremony ceremony was dedicated to His Holiness Aram I’s 50th anniversary of the priesthood ordination. The welcoming remarks was delivered by Fr. Zaven Najarian, who pointed out the significant aspects of the Seminary that makes…
On Tuesday, June 12th, 2018, 13 graduates received certificates for successfully completing the three-year program in Armenology from the Educational-Armenological Department of the Catholicosate of Cilicia. The Armenological Center was launched in 2012-2013 under the Educational-Armenological Department of the Catholicosate of Cilicia. The late Sarkis Guiragossian directed the program for the first three years…
On Tuesday, June 12th, 2018, His Holiness Aram I received Patriarch Aphrem II of the Syriac Orthodox Church at St. Mary’s Monastery in Bikfaya. They reviewed the current situation in the Middle East in general and in Syria in particular, and discussed cooperation between the two Churches. The meeting was also an opportunity to examine…
On Sunday, June 10th, 2018, under the auspices of His Holiness Aram I, Bishop Meghrig Parikian celebrated Divine Liturgy and performed the ordination of ten deacons from the Seminary. During the Service, Fr. Zaven Najarian, the sponsoring priest, led the candidates to the alter. They came to the altar on their knees and gave…
On Saturday, June 9th, 2018, thousands were gathered in front of the Martyrs’ Monument at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Bikfaya to celebrate the 50th anniversary of His Holiness Aram I’s ordination to the priesthood. The Lebanese Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Maestro Harout Fazlian, and Soprano Hasmik Babian performed on this occasion. Representatives of diplomats, community…
On Friday, June 9th, 2018, His Holiness Aram I received Mohammad FathAli, the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Lebanon. During the meeting, they both exchanged their perspectives regarding the situation in the Middle East in general, and the situation in Lebanon and Syria in particular. His Holiness and His Excellency reflected…
On Sunday evening, June the 3rd, His Holiness Aram I held a phone conversation with Pago Sahakian, the President of the Republic of Artsakh, and expressed his concern in regards to the recent demonstrations occurring in the capital Stepanagerd. President Sahakian briefed His Holiness about the situation and the motives behind the protests, while…
Under the patronage of Information Minister Melhem Riachy, on Friday, June 1st, 2018, the Information and Communication Department of the Catholicosate of Cilicia participated in a joint press conference with the Mr. Riachi, Télé Lumière and NourSat, where the formation of the “Consortium of Christian Communication and Information Organizations” was announced. The aim of this…
Over the last few days, His Holiness Aram I received the following visitors: a) Dr. Szuromi Szabolcs Anzelm, the president of the Pázmány Péter Catholic University (Budapest, Hungary). b)Mr. Zaven Khanjian, the executive director/CEO of the Armenian Missionary Association of America (AMAA) and Dr. Nazareth Darakjian, the president of AMAA. c) Dr. Mike Bassous, the…
On Thursday, May 31st, His Holiness Aram I received Mor Theophilus George Saliba, the representative of the Patriarch of the Syrian Orthodox Church Ignatius Aphrem II. The purpose of the visit was to consult with His Holiness on the agenda of the meeting between the three spiritual leaders (the Armenian Church, the Coptic Church and…
The Catholicosate of Cilicia dedicated the evening of Sunday, May 27th 2018 to the centennial of the First Independence of the Republic of Armenia. The evening commenced with a requiem service for the soul of Catholicos Karekin Hovsepian, who was a leading figure in the battle of independence, followed by a concert by the Armash…
On the week of May 14th, members from the legal committee of the lawsuit filed by the Catholicosate of Cilicia for the return of its historical seat in Sis held a work meeting in Antelias under the supervision of His Holiness Aram I. A complete session of the legal committee will take place in the…
On May 16th, His Holiness Aram I held a phone conversation with the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Mr. Nigol Pashinyan. His Holiness congratulated Pashinyan on his election, saluted the new government, and wished Pashinyan success in his efforts towards building a stronger and more prosperous Armenia.
On May 11th, 2018, Mr. Fotis Fotiou, the Commissioner for matters on Overseas Cypriots and Religious Groups and the representative of the president of the Republic of Cyprus, accompanied by the ambassador of Cyprus to Lebanon Christina Rafti and embassy officials, visited His Holiness Aram I. The meeting was an opportunity to discuss…
On May 10th, 2018, His Holiness Aram I received the newly elected Lebanese Armenian ministers: Hagop Pakradounian, Hagop Terzian and Alexander Mattosian, who form the Armenian Bloc. His Holiness congratulated the new ministers for their election and commended the formation of the Armenian Bloc, stressing that the Armenian Bloc would have been stronger…
On May 7th, 2018, the newly formed Ladies Auxiliary of the Armenian Theological Seminary, accompanied by the Dean of the Seminary V. Rev. Boghos Tinkjian, visited His Holiness Aram I in Antelias. Rev. Tinjian briefed His Holiness about the projects the Auxiliary has achieved thus far and stressed that their mission is to contribute…
On May 9th, His Holiness Aram I held a phone conversation with Pago Sahakian, the president of the Republic of Artsakh and congratulated him on the occasion of the 26th anniversary of the liberation of Shushi. His Holiness stated that the liberation of Shushi is a historical achievement, a source of joy and pride for…
On the occasion of the 300th anniversary of the establishment of Mekhitarist Congregation in Venice, a conference entitled “Mekhitar and Mekhitarists; a Seminary for the Christian Enlightenment” was held in the Saint Lazarus Monastery in Venice, on May 4th to 6th, 2018. The conference was organized by Archbishop Levon Zekiyan, the Pontifical Delegate of Mekhitarist…
On May 8th, 2018, the newly appointed ambassador of Switzerland Monika Schmutz Kirgöz paid a visit to His Holiness Aram I, accompanied by Hassan Thuillard, diplomatic attaché, and Berge Arabian, member of the Board of the Lebanese Businessmen Union. The meeting was an opportunity to discuss the current situation in the Middle East in…
A brief comment by H.H. Aram I What happened recently in Armenia was a first step in social transformation. In fact, the people rose against the widening gap between haves and have-nots, the growing corruption, and the dominance of injustice in all aspects and spheres of life in the country. Struggle for social injustice has…
On May 4th, 2018, His Holiness Aram I visited the Bird’s Nest Orphanage and the Armenian Genocide Orphans’ “Aram Bezikian” Museum in Byblos. At Bird’s Nest, His Holiness met with the administration and staff to discuss the continuing mission of the orphanage, whose legacy is not only rooted in its significant work in assembling…
On Monday, April 30th, representatives from the churches of Lebanon and of the M.E.C.C. met in the Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia. The special committee is tasked with organizing an international ecumenical youth gathering in 2019. Prior to the meeting, the committee members paid their respects to the martyrs of the Armenian Genocide, by laying…
On May 2nd, 2018, Dr. Jean Salmanian, member of the Ecumenical Relations Committee of the Catholicosate of Cilicia, participated in the Interreligious Dialogue Meeting, organized by the King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz International Center for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue (KAICIID), and held in Amman. The purpose of the meeting was to explore the possibility of…
On Wednesday evening, May 2nd, 2018, His Holiness Aram I and Nikol Pashinyan held a consultation on the phone aimed at finding a political consensus to bring Armenia out of the prevailing crisis. His Holiness saluted the peaceful popular movement in Armenia and praised Pashinyan for his efforts to overcome the crisis through constitutional…
On the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of His Holiness Aram I ‘s ordination into priesthood, on Sunday, April 29th, 2018, the Catholicosate’s “Shnorhali” choir and the Armenian Thelogical Seminary’s “Armash” choir gave a joint concert in the “Jirayr and Tsoline Nalbandian” auditorium, at the Armenian United College. The director of both choirs, Monk…
On Friday, April 28th, His Holiness Aram I received Taner Akcam, Turkish historian and expert on the Armenian Genocide, who was accompanied by Ohannes Geukjian, Assistant Professor in the Political Science and Public Administration Department at the American University of Beirut. During the visit, Akcam offered His Holiness a copy of his latest publication…
Under the supervision of His Holiness Aram I and the Cilicia Museum committee, Eshgian’s USD 100 000 donation will serve to renovate and reorganize the museum. Established in 1996, the museum encompasses a historical account of the Catholicosate: religious, archeological and cultural artifacts, relics and rescued treasures from the district of Cilicia exhibit the odyssey…
Mr. and Mrs. Anushavan Nazarian from Kuwait donated USD 200 000 to the Armenian Theological Seminary for the purpose of building a library, which will be named after their children, Nouneh and Ninareh Nazarian.
On April 28th, 2018, a delegation from the Christian-Islamic Dialogue and Cooperation Commission of the Council Of Bishops of the catholic church of France visited Antelias and met with His Holiness Aram I. The commission’s aim was to learn about interreligious cooperation in the Middle East in general and in Lebanon in particular, as well…
“THE COMMEMORATION OF THE GENOCIDE IS RECOMMITMENT TO THE STRUGGLE FOR RECOGNITION AND REPARATION” HIS HOLINESS ARAM I 24 April is the day that Armenians all over the world commemorate the Genocide and demand that their stolen rights be restored. The 24th of April is the day to honour the life and legacy of the…
On the morning of April 23rd, 2018, His Holiness Aram I presided over a meeting of the Cilicia Brotherhood, in Antelias. His Holiness took the opportunity to discuss the current political situation unfolding in Armenia. His Holiness stressed that the church, the motherland and its people are one; therefore, the church cannot remain indifferent and…
On April 20th, 2018, upon his return from Armenia, His Holiness Aram I and Mr. Pago Sahakian, the president of the Republic of Artsakh held a phone conversation, initiated by Mr. Sahakian. They discussed the details of His Holiness’ aforementioned visit, focusing specifically on the recent events unfolding in Armenia.
On April 20th, 2018, His Holiness Aram I left for Armenia for a three-hour visit, where he first met with His Holiness Karekin II. Afterwards, the two Catholicoi met with the president of the Armenian Republic, Mr. Armen Sarkissian, and the Prime Minister, Mr. Serge Sarkissian. The meeting was an opportunity for the Catholicoi…
On Saturday, April 14th, 2018, the Cilicia Museum in Antelias and the Armenian Genocide Orphans’ “Aram Bezikian” Museum in Jbeil, participated in the “Museums Night,” which was organized by the Ministry of Culture of Lebanon. More than 1000 people visited these two museums and toured in the footsteps of the Armenian heritage.
On April 14 and 15, 2018, the Armenian Church, Catholicosate of Cilicia witnessed the episcopal ordination and consecration of Very Rev. Masis Zoboyan (Prelacy of Kuwait), Very Rev. Sipan Ketchedjian (Prelacy of Isfahan), Very Rev. Mesrob Sarkissian (Pontifical Vicar for the United Arab Emirates) and Very Rev. Torkom Donoyan (Vicar General of the Western Prelacy).…
On April 12th and 13th , 2018, the Religious Council, the Lay Council and the Finance and Administration body of the Lay Council of the National General Assembly held their meetings respectively in Antelias, under the supervision and auspices of His Holiness Aram I. Archbishop Shahan Sarkissian was present at the Central Committee…
