On Wednesday 11 June 2014, Ambassador David Hale visited His Holiness Aram I. During the meeting they discussed the situation in the region and most importantly in Syria and Lebanon.
During his three day official visit to the Vatican, His Holiness Aram I emphasized the importance of the recognition and the reparation of the Armenian Genocide. His Holiness asked Pope Francis, both in His private and public meetings, to give His support to the Armenian cause. The issue of Armenian Genocide was present also…
On the last evening of the official visit to the Vatican, His Holiness Aram I, the accompanying clergy and the delegates held a festive dinner. After joyful singing, recitation of poems and thanksgiving, the Catholicos addressed the delegation and described the visit as a positive step in ecumenism and in giving visibility to Armenia…
Within the scope of his official visit to the Vatican, His Holiness met with Vatican’s Secretary of State Cardinal Parolini. They discussed issue related to the Middle East as well as major concerns and challenges facing the Christian communities. The Armenian Genocide was also discussed and His Holiness appreciated the support of the Vatican. …
During his visit to the Vatican, His Holiness Aram I also met with the ambassadors of Armenia and Lebanon. After these meetings the Lebanese ambassador General George khoury stressed the particular importance of His Holiness’ visit to the Vatican, for the Middle East in general and Lebanon in particular. He reminded that Pope Francis…
7 June 2014. While visiting Pope Francis I in Rome, Catholicos Aram I received a report from Archbishop Shahan Sarkissian, prelate of the Armenian Diocese of Peria (Syria), on the aggression against Armenians in the Nor Kyugh neighbourhood of Aleppo. According to the report, Armenian Churches, schools and residences are being bombarded in the densely…
In a private meeting this morning with His Holiness the Pope Francis Catholicos Aram I briefly discussed the following issues.- The Christian presence in the Middle East, challenges and concerns facing the churches in the region, the Syrian conflict and the problems facing the Armenian community in Aleppo and Kessab, the centennial of the Armenian…
“Your solidarity with the Armenians during the 100th Anniversary Commemorations of the Genocide will be a valuable contribution to our just cause” H.H. Aram I “The history of emigration, persecutions and the martyrdom experienced by so many of the faithful has inflicted deep woonds on the hearts of all Armenians. We must see and venerate…
Vatican – During the visit to the Vatican, His Holiness Aram I and his delegation attended a special prayer service organized by the St Egidio community at the St. John the Lateran Church in Rome. In his sermon, the Catholicos spoke of the theological and spiritual meaning of martyrdom (martyria) and linked it to…
The Vatican: Addressing the staff of the Vatican’s Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of Cilicia emphasized the growing importance of bilateral theological dialogues as “the credible and efficient way of leading the churches towards the visible unity”. His Holiness begun his talk by reminding the pivotal importance…
Accompanied by high ranking delegation composed of ten primates, His Holiness Aram I began his official visit to the Vatican on Tuesday 3 June 2014. Aram I arrived in Rome by a private plane and was met at the airport by His Eminence Cardinal Koch, the president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian…
On Sunday afternoon Rev. Dr. Olav Fikse Tveit met with Catholicos Aram I at his office in Antelias. After discussing challenges to the member churches following the 10th Assembly, and the expectations of the member churches from the World Council of Churches, Catholicos Aram I shared his concerns and made suggestions to Rev. Olav Fikse…
On Sunday 1 June 2014, His Holiness Aram I, accompanied by Bishop Shahe Panossian Prelate of Lebanon, and Archbishop Shahan Sarkissian, Prelate of Peria (Syria), attended the installation ceremony of Mor Ignatius Aphrem II as Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church. The ceremony was held at…
On Monday 2 June 2014, Catholicos Aram I and Patriarch Al Rai met to discuss the recent pilgrimage of the Patriarch to Jerusalem and Catholicos Aram I’s forthcoming meeting with Pope Francis of Rome. On the same day the Catholicos also met with the Apostolic Nuncio Cardinal Gabriele Giordano Caccia to discuss the programme…
Antelias – On Friday 30 May 2014, a delegation of the Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia, headed by Archbishop Shahan, represented His Holiness Aram I at the enthronement of Mor Moran Ignatius Aphrem II as the new Patriarch of the Syriac Orthodox Church, Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East. During the official luncheon, the representatives…
Antelias – On 28 May 2014, Holinesses Karekin II and Aram I presided over the Liturgy commemorating the Battle of Sardarabad. President of Armenia Serge Sarkissian attended service. After the requiem service, the two Catholicoi addressed the people. The ceremony ended with a message from the President. Later in the same afternoon a special thanksgiving…
Antelias – After a private meeting with Karekin II and Aram I, the President of Armenia, Serge Sarkissian, invited the two Catholicoi to attend the fourth session of the Nationwide Committee in Erevan. In his message to the meeting, Catholios Aram I said that during the first session of the committee he had proposed that…
Antelias – On the occasion of the visit of Pope Francis I to the Holy Land, King Abdullah of Jordan invited the religious leaders in the region to join him in welcoming the pope. His Holiness Aram I was represented by Archbishop Nareg Alemezian, Locum Tenens of the Catholicosate of Cilicia and Director of Ecumenical…
Antelias – On Monday 26 May 2014, secretaries representing thirty Christian World Communions held their annual meeting at the World Council of Churches in Geneva. After Archbishop Nareg welcomed the secretaries, the participants discussed current humanitarian issues challenging their communion and proposed strategies for cooperation. The Archbishop also met the General Secretary of the WCC…
HASK – April 2014 Read here
Antelias 25 May 2014. On Sunday, following the Holy Liturgy in Antelias, His Holiness Aram I presided over the special requiem service in memory of the martyrs of the war of Independence in 1918, the first Armenian Republic. After the service, the people gathered at the Main Hall of the Residence of the Catholicos for…
Antelias – 24 May 2014. On Saturday morning, Sheikh Kabbani and his close collaborators met with His Holiness Aram I in his office in Antelias. The meeting was a follow-up to conversations they had in Bahrain during the International Conference on “All Civilizations in Service to Humanity,” 5-7 May 2014. The two religious leaders expressed…
The General Assembly of the Diocese of Canada of the Catholicosate of Cilicia met 9-10 May 2014 and elected Bishop Meghrik Parikian as the new Prelate; on 13 May 2014, His Holiness Aram I confirmed the election. Bishop Meghrik has been serving the Parish of Toronto and its regions since 2002; he succeeds Archbishop…
Following their meeting in Bahrain during the International Conference, His Holiness Aram I and Patriarch John X of Antioch and All the East, met again in Dubai. V. Rev. Mesrob Sarkissian, the Patriarchal Vicar of the Catholicosate of Cilicia in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) also attended the meeting. The two church leaders discussed…
During his stay in Bahrain, His Holiness Aram I, accompanied by Archbishop Sebouh Sarkissian and Very Reverends Masis and Mesrob, visited the Ambassador of Lebanon to Bahrain. The Conference also provided the opportunity for Catholicos Aram I to meet with the Catholicos of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church of India, Mar Basilios Paulose II,…
Considering the importance of the conference for the countries of the Gulf and the Middle East, the conference: Emphasized the importance of building relations and promoting cooperation among interfaith communities, Urged the United Nations Alliance of Civilization to support existing dialogue initiatives and encourage new ones, Stressed that all dialogues should underline common grounds…
Ms. Teny Pirri-Simonian, Vice-President of the Ecumenical Relations Committee of the Catholicosate of Cilicia and Lecturer in Religion and Ethics at Webster University Geneva Campus, presented a paper on “Religious Education and its role in promoting co-existence among all people.” She was also a member of the committee that drafted the final declaration of the…
Antelias – 9-11 May 2014, the Board of ARMENOFAS Foundation held its annual meeting in Greece. The Foundation is the continuation of the humanitarian work of the Swiss people that began with the Armenian Genocide. The Federation of Protestant Churches in Switzerland (FEPS) and the Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia currently sponsor the Foundation. The members…
On the occasion of the inauguration of the Conference, His Holiness Aram I and a limited number of participants were the guests of His Majesty the King for lunch. On Monday 5 May, His Holiness Aram I was a dinner guest of the Armenian community in Bahrain; they were joined by a group of…
His Holiness Aram I and the Executive Council of the Catholicosate of Cilicia have announced that they are monitoring the situation in Kessab and its uprooted population closely and that they are deeply concerned over the deep political, national and humanitarian implications of the displacement. Accompanied by community leaders, Archbishop Shahan Sarkissian continues to…
Mor Theophilus George Saliba, Metropolitan of Mount Lebanon, visited His Holiness Aram I on behalf of the newly installed Syrian Orthodox Patriarch, Moran Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, of Antioch and All the East. The Metropolitan conveyed the greetings of the Patriarch and expressed the solidarity of their Church with the Armenian people on the eve…
On the eve of the 100th Anniversary commemoration, the Martyrs Chapel where the remains of the Genocide victims rest is being renovated. The current project, which is sponsored by Mr. and Mrs. Zareh Bezikian, is one of the many major renovation projects being undertaken by the Catholicosate of Cilicia in preparation for the 100th…
Addressing an international inter-religious Conference in Bahrain, organized by the state, His Holiness Aram I in his keynote lecture emphasized the crucial importance of “accepting and respecting each other the way we are” as the only way of building harmonious, coherent and peaceful societies and a better world. …
03 May 2014. On Sunday His Holiness Aram I will leave for Bahrain where he is invited to be the keynote speaker at the conference on “Dialogue of Civilizations” initiated by His Royal Highness King Hamad bin Al Khalifa. The delegation will include, H.E. Archbishop Sebouh Sarkissian, Very Rev. Mesrob Sarkissian, the Pontifical representative…
30 April 2014. On Wednesday, members of the Executive Committee of the Union of Armenian Evangelical Churches, representing the United States of America, Europe and the Middle East, met with Catholicos Aram I in Antelias. On the occasion of their meeting in Lebanon, they discussed with His Holiness the hardships of the Armenian community…
26 April 2014. The ordination ceremony began Saturday evening in the Cathedral where His Holiness Aram I presided over the ritual of the examination of the faith of Very Rev. Meghrig Parikian (Prelacy of Canada), Very Rev. Krikor Chiftjian (Prelacy of Aderbadagan in Iran) and Very Rev. Magar Ashekian (Prelacy of Tehran). Following the reading…
25 April 2014. A delegation of German Bishops, headed by Archbishop Ludwig Schick, met with His Holiness Aram I as part of their fact-finding trip in the region. They wanted to hear from His Holiness about the situation of Christians in the Middle East. After describing the situation, His Holiness emphasized the importance of strengthening…
24 April 2014. On Thursday, following the Holy Liturgy at the St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral in Antelias, the faithful attended the requiem service in memory of the martyrs in front of the Memorial Chapel. His Holiness Aram I presided over the service and, addressing the people, he delivered the following message: The…
20 April 2014. On Easter Sunday, Armenian members of the Lebanese parliament, ministers civil society representatives and more than a thousand faithful attended the Holy Liturgy at St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral in Antelias. His Holiness Aram I based his Easter sermon on the message of the angel at the empty tomb of Jesus (Mathew…
This year again His Holiness Aram I assigned the priests serving at the Catholicosate to assist in the services at the dioceses and parishes in Lebanon, Latakia (Syria), Cyprus, Tehran, Montreal (Canada) and Jerusalem.
15 April 2014. On Great and Holy Tuesday during the evening service, the Armenian Orthodox Church commemorated the parable of the Ten Maidens in Antelias. After prayers and hymns on the theme, reminding the faithful to be prepared for the Day of Judgment, the priest read the parable (Mathew 25:14-30). As is the tradition, during…
16 April 2014. On Wednesday evening Judge Jean Fahed met with His Holiness Aram I in Antelias. They discussed the situation in Lebanon and problems related to the judiciary and the confessional courts. In relation to the confessional courts, His Holiness emphasized the importance of family laws for the community.
The members of the Brotherhood met at the Meeting Hall of the Gulbenkian Museum in Antelias under the leadership of His Holiness Aram I. Following the election of the officers of the Assembly, in his opening message, the Catholicos Aram I reminded the clergy that such meetings were times to take account, to assess, to…
2 April 2014. On Wednesday evening the UN-Undersecretary Baroness Valerie Amos, who was on a one-day visit to Lebanon to discuss the status of Syrian refugees, met with His Holiness Aram I in Antelias. His Holiness Aram I welcomed the Under-Secretary and expressed his appreciation to her for including the situation in Kessab in…
1 April 2014. In the morning His Holiness Aram I presided over the meeting of the Council of Religion with the participation of all the Prelates. The members of the Council received reports on ecumenical and interfaith activities of the church, discussed interim reports on coordinating the rites of the Church and classification of…
31 March 2014. On Monday the morning His Holiness Aram I accompanied by the Prelates of the Dioceses of Lebanon, Syria and Tehran, visited Patriarch-elect Mor Cyril Aphrem Karim at the Atchaneh Monastery in Lebanon. During their conversation they discussed the centuries-old relationship between the two churches and the urgency of continuing to work…
29 March 2014. On Saturday morning, Cardinal Kurt Koch, accompanied by his staff and the Apostolic Nuncio to Lebanon Gabriele Giordano Caccia, visited His Holiness Aram I. Archbishop Nareg Alemezian, the Ecumenical Officer of the Catholicosate, was also present at the meeting. The Cardinal and His Holiness covered a wide range of issues, starting…
28 March, 2014. On Friday evening Derek Plumbly, the UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon, met with Catholicos Aram I to follow up a telephone conversation the Catholicos had had earlier with Under-Secretary Jeffrey Feltman regarding Kessab. His Holiness briefed Mr Plumbly of the historical importance of Kessab for Armenians and the necessity of securing…
27 March 2014. On Thursday evening, Jeffrey Feltman, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, called His Holiness Aram I from New York asking for his assessment of the situation in Kessab. Mr Feltman told the Catholicos that the UN was extremely concerned about the security situation in Kessab. He also told His Holiness that he…
27 March 2014. On Thursday morning the delegation, accompanied by the Ambassador of Armenia to Lebanon and his staff, met with Catholicos Aram I. They informed him of the results of their fact-finding visits, which have included the displaced Armenians in Latakia and the President of Syria. His Holiness Aram I briefed them on…
After consulting with the emergency committees working in the city of Latakia and the reports of the clergy travelling to Kessab and all other Kessab-related bodies, Catholicos Aram I calls upon Armenians everywhere to: Move from expressions of solidarity to action by responding to the needs of the population of Kessab currently sheltered in Latakia,…
26 March 2014. Yesterday evening, His Holiness Aram I received His Holiness Pope Tawadros II who was accompanied by a delegation of Bishops and laity. Catholicos Aram I and the clergy accompanied the delegation to the Cathedral for Canonical prayers. After prayers they met at the Main Hall of the Residence of the Catholicos where…
26 March 2014. On Wednesday Catholicos Aram I, accompanied by clergy and the seminary students, attended the Lenten Sunrise Service (Arevakal) at the St. Nishan Church in Beirut upon the invitation of the Prelate and the Church Council. After giving thanks for the invitation, Catholicos Aram I addressed the faithful, quoting the Biblical text…
Following the assault on Kessab during the weekend, the Executive Committee of the Catholicosate held an extraordinary meeting and moved to help the displaced Armenian population of Kessab and called upon all Armenians to them at this tragic time. At the conclusion of the meeting, His Holiness Aram I announced that all Armenians whether…
24 March 2014 – On Monday President Serge Sarkissian called Catholicos Aram I asking for information about the bombing and militia attacks from Turkey on Friday and Saturday on the Armenian town of Kessab and its surrounding villages. The President promised the Catholicos to appeal to all political entities in order to protect the…
On Friday, 21 March, early in the morning, His Holiness Aram I was informed of the assault and bombardment of the radical rebel forces from Turkey on Kessab, the historical Armenian region near the Turkish border. After consultation with the Armenian clergy and community leaders in Latakia, Aleppo, Damascus and Lebanon, the Catholicos demanded that…
21 March 2014. Upon receiving the news of the passing of Patriarch Zakka I Iwas, His Holiness Aram I called Archbishop George Saliba, Secretary of the Holy Synod. After presenting his condolences, Catholicos Aram I expressed his hope that the historical ties between the two churches, rekindled by the late Patriarch, would continue.
20 March 2014. On Thursday evening the presentation of the “Commemorative Publication” was held at the Cilicia Museum Hall. The event was organizated by the committee of the Hask Quarterly, a publication of the Catholicosate and the Seminary. Rev. Shenohk Ashekian welcomed everyone and referred to the celebration of this ‘Commemorative Publication’ as the…
On Monday Dr. Razmig Panossian, the Director of the Armenian Division of the Foundation met with His Holiness and presented the proposed five-year plan of the Foundation. Catholicos Aram I praised the overall goal of sustaining Armenian culture and the Western Armenian language. He also welcomed the proposed support to Armenian schools and scholarships…
On Sunday 16 March 2014, after the Holy Liturgy, Catholicos Aram I inaugurated the 35th Book Fair entitled “Source of Spiritual and Intellectual Enrichment.” In his message, His Holiness stated that although the current innovations in communication and the Internet are providing quick information and knowledge, the Armenian book is the powerful repository of…
14 March 2014. On the occasion of 2014, the Year of the Elderly, instituted by Catholicos Aram I, one hundred elderly people visited Antelias. They first attended the Lenten Sunrise service (Arevakal) at St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral and then met with His Holiness Aram I. After welcoming them, His Holiness said, “After the tragic…
On Thursday 13 March 2014, His Holiness Aram I received Minister Abou Faour, accompanied by Hagop Pakradouni Member of Parliament and Ziad Chaya, Director of the Office of the Ministry. After discussing the situation in Lebanon, particularly the difficulties of the newly appointed government, Catholicos Aram I asked the minister, within the framework of…
10 March 2014. On Monday, a group of young artists from Artzakh, accompanied by the Vice-Minister for Culture and Youth and representatives of the Lebanon Artzakh fund, met with His Holiness Aram I. The group had come to take part in the programme of the Artzakh Cultural Week organized by the Fund in Lebanon. …
On Saturday March 1, 2014, in the evening, following the 40th anniversary concert of the Shenorhali Choir, His Holiness Aram I decorated Mr. and Mrs Hagop Chilinguirian with the St. Mesrob Mashdotz insignia. In his message, Catholicos Aram I recognized Mr and Mrs Chilinguirian’s service to the community through the many committees on which he…
During January and February 2014, Rt. Rev. Paren Vartanian represented the Ecumenical Relations Office of the Catholicosate in the preparatory meeting towards a major event in May 2014 to discuss “Christians in the Middle East. On 23 January 2014, Rt. Rev. Vartanian also participated in the meeting of the Bible Society Committee for Lebanon…
On 27 February 2014, on the Feast of the Vartanantz Heroes, Catholicos Aram I referred to the writings of the historian Yeghishé, and reminded the faithful that “Our heroes of the Vartanantz war sacrificed their lives to defend our one faith, homeland and rights as a Nation.” He continued, “We are called to face our common…
On Tuesday 24 February 2014, Ambassador Hilary Childs-Adams, accompanied by the Trade and Economic Affairs Attaché of the Embassy Jean-Philippe Tashjian, visited Catholicos Aram I. His Holiness described the history of the Catholicosate and its mission in the Diaspora, the contribution of the Armenian community to the politics of peaceful coexistence in Lebanon and…
23 February 2014, following the Holy Liturgy and the Memorial Service, the clergy and the faithful gathered at the Main Hall of the Catholicosate where His Holiness Aram I honored the committed educator and man of letters, Zaven Missirlian. Mr. Jirair Tanielian traced the life of Zaven Missirlian and described him as a dedicated teacher…
On Sunday 23 February 2014, His Holiness Aram I presided over the Holy Liturgy and the Memorial Service celebrating the lives of the departed Catholicoi and clergy and offered prayers for the victims of the Sumgait massacre (1988). In his sermon, the priest who celebrated the liturgy spoke of the lives of the departed catholicoi…
On Sunday 23 February 2014, in the evening a special ceremony was organized to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of Melkon and Haik Arslanian Djemaran (College) of the Armenian Educational and Cultural Association (Hamazkayin). Mr. Dikran Jinbashian, the current director, opened the evening. He recounted the history of Djemaran, which opened its doors 83 years ago,…
On Friday 14 February 2014, representatives of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) from Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom met with His Holiness Aram I. These NGO’s are engaged in humanitarian work in Syria and are particularly concerned with the presence of Christians in the region. Prior to travelling to the region, they met…
Friday 14 February 2014. On Thursday evening, a large number of parents with their children gathered at the to St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral to attend the evening service prior to the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple. His Holiness Aram I presided over the ceremony and preached. After recounting the story…
The newly appointed Executive Committee of the World Council of Churches met at the Ecumenical Institute Bossey, 7-12 February 2014. The main agenda was to study the decisions and recommendations of the 10th Assembly held in Busan (South Korea). Archbishop Nareg Alemezian as a member of the Executive committee and its Programme Executive committee Committee…
11 February 2014. On Monday, around the meeting of the Executive Committee of the World Council of Churches held in Geneva, Archbishop Nareg Alemezian member of the Executive Committee and Ms. Teny Pirri-Simonian, member of the Central Committee, met with the Moderator Dr. Agnes Abuom and General Secretary Rev. Olav Fykse Tveit to discuss the…
10 February 2014. In a letter to the Federal Counselor of the Department of Justice and Police, Simonetta Sammaruga, His Holiness Aram I shared the indignation of Armenians with the decision of the European Court of Human Rights on the Perençik case condemning Switzerland. The Catholicos wrote,” legitimization of negationism of the Armenian Genocide by…
On Friday 7 February 2014, His Holiness Aram I met with the Swiss Ambassador to Lebanon Her Excellency Ruth Flint. During the meeting, the Catholicos expressed his indignation at the decision of the ECHR on the Perinçek case of December 2013. His Holiness stated that this ruling not only questions the truth of the Armenian…
2 February 2014. The Joint international commission met in Pampakuda Kerala, India upon the invitation of H.H. Basilius Mar Paulose II, Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church. The Armenian Orthodox Church was represented by Bp. Hovaguim Manoukian and Rev. Shahé Ananian (Holy See Etchmiadzin) and Archbishop Nareg Alemezian (Holy See Cilicia). Archbishop Nareg Alemezian and Cardinal Kurt…
27 -29 January 2013. The members of the Commission first met with His Holiness Aram I who gave them his blessings and thanked them for their work. The membership includes representatives appointed by His Holiness Karekin II of Holy Etchmiadzin and His Holiness Aram I of the Holy See of Cilicia. The Commission began its…
29-30 January 2014. The members of the Commission jointly appointed by Holinesses Karekin II and Aram I met to study the recommendations and comments of the last Bishops Conference and finalize the draft on the Canon of Baptismal Rite. Under the leadership of the Co-moderators, Archbishop Komitas Mehanian (Cilicia) and Bishop Arshak Khatchadurian, (Etchmiadzin), the…
The Director of the Ministry of Environment Dr. Berj Hadjian met with Catholicos Aram I and briefed him on the activities of the Ministry to protect the environment. He then proposed to the Catholicos to plant trees around all Armenian institutions in the country as part of their “greening the city” policy. His Holiness also…
On 26 January 2014, Ashot Kotcharian, the Ambassador of Armenia to Lebanon, met with His Holiness Aram I. The focus of their conversation was the 100th anniversary commemoration of the Armenian Genocide and how to further strengthen Armenia-Diaspora relations. The Catholicos also explained the purpose of the meeting the week before on Christian presence in…
On Monday 27th January, His Holiness Aram I gave a lecture on “The challenges facing the ecumenical movement” at the Near East School of Theology. Hereunder the outline of the lecture.- PART I A) What are the challenges of the Ecumenical movement?… Ecumenism is essential for “being church”: 1) it reminds the interrelatedness of churches;…
25 January 2014. Following the meeting of the Council of Religion, the Council of Laity met under the Presidency of His Holiness Aram I. The members reviewed the programmes and budgets proposed by the General Assembly and approved the following priorities for 2014: Construction projects, preparatory activities for the 100th anniversary commemoration of the Genocide,…
On Thursday 23 January, Catholicos Aram I presided over the one-day meeting of the Council of Religion. The Council consists of 13 clergy including Diocesan Bishops. The Council met for the first time since the last National Assembly of the Catholicosate and its task was to study the recommendations and plan for their implementation. The…
20 January 2014. During the Ecumenical and International Consultation on Syria organized by the World Council of Churches (WCC) 15-17 January in Geneva, participants also discussed the problem of emigration of Christians from the Middle East. His Holiness Aram I shared his concern by reminding the participants that the conflicts and consequent violence of…
15-17 January 2014, Catholicos Aram I took part in the consultation held at the WCC in Geneva Switzerland. The participants included religious leaders from Syria and the Middle East Council of Churches, representatives from churches from countries of the Action Group for Geneva I, and other international ecumenical organizations. The General Secretary of the WCC,…
Upon the arrival of Catholicos Aram I in Geneva, the General Secretary of the World Council of Churches, Rev. Dr. Olav Fykse Tveit and the staff responsible for the Middle East, met with His Holiness at his hotel to discuss the agenda of the WCC Ecumenical and international meeting on Syria, the contribution of His…
On 16 January 2014, Rev. Dr. Gottfried Locher, President of the Federation of Swiss Protestant Churches (FEPS), and Rev. Serge Fornerod, Director of International and Ecumenical Relations of FEPS, met with His Holiness Aram I in Geneva. Archbishop Sebouh Sarkissian and Ms. Teny Simonian, President of ARMENOFAS, the Swiss-Armenian Foundation, were also present. His Holiness…
According to the established tradition, religious and political officials, as well as representatives of civil society and interreligious associations visit Antelias to express their good wishes to Catholicos Aram I and the Armenian community. The visit this year was also an opportunity for the leaders to discuss with His Holiness the situation in Lebanon, specifically…
HASK – November – December 2013 read here https://www.armenianorthodoxchurch.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/NOVEMBER-_-DECEMBER-2013.pdf
On Monday 6 January His Holiness Aram I celebrated the Holy Liturgy and gave his Christmas message to the faithful at St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral. His Holiness stressed the theme of peace, following the message of Jesus the Prince of Peace in his parables and his blessing of the peacemakers. The Catholicos remarked that…
On the eve of the New Year, Mr. and Mrs. Hagop Chiliguirian donated US $ 200,000 in appreciation for the witness and outreach of the Catholicosate of Cilicia to the community. In consultation with His Holiness Aram I, the couple allocated US $ 100,000 as seed money for the Shenorhali Choir Trust Fund, and another…
On the eve of the New Year and Christmas feasts, Catholicos Aram I confirmed the appointments of Rt. Rev. Masis Choboyan (born 1975 and ordained 1997) as the Vicar in Kuwait and Rev. Mesrob Sarkissian (born 1983 and ordained 2006) as the Vicar of the United Arab Emirates.
LIVE TELEVISION BROADCAST OF CHRISTMAS MASS VIA SATELLITE FROM ANTELIAS – JANUARY 6TH, 2014 The Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation International (LBCI) will broadcast LIVE via satellite the Christmas Mass presided over by His Holiness Aram I, from St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral in Antelias, on Monday 6 January 2014, beginning from 8:00 am UTC (GMT). For…
1.- Meeting with the children at the Birds Nest Orphanage/School in Byblos On Monday 23 December 2013, Catholicos Aram I, accompanied by members of the clergy, visited the Birds Nest. The sisters of the Kayanian Order, the members of the Board, the director, faculty and staff, greeted the Catholicos. After watching a special programme,…
Thursday, 19 December 2013. Mr. Serop Ohanian, the director of the Howard Karagueuzian Foundation for the Middle East, met with His Holiness Aram I. The director briefed the Catholicos on the foundation’s humanitarian work with 1350 Armenian families from Syria who are currently registered at their Centre in Beirut. His Holiness Aram I thanked Mr.…
On Wednesday 18 December 2013 The Committee of ACUSA, Rev. Nechan Lakhoyan, the spiritual advisor to the committee, and his predecessor, Rev. Ghevont Pentezian, met with His Holiness Aram I. After expressing his appreciation for all the events organized around the 50th Anniversary celebrations of the Association, Catholicos Aram I invited the committee to assess…
On Wednesday 18 December 2013. Dr. George Sabra, the President of NEST, and his class visited the Catholicosate of Cilicia in order to learn about the Armenian Church. The group included students form Lebanon, Syria, Europe, Canada and the United States of America. Archbishop Nareg Alemezian welcomed the students and lectured on the theology, ecclesiology…
On Tuesday 17 December 2013, Leila Riyad Solh, accompanied by the Director of the Foundation Walid Bin Talal and Armenian Member of Parliament Hagop Pakradouni, met with His Holiness Aram I. After Catholicos Aram I’s welcome, Vice President Mrs Leila Riyad Solh discussed the educational and humanitarian activities of the Foundation in Lebanon. His Holiness…
