On Sunday 19 May 2013, on Pentecost Day, during the Holy Liturgy, six sub deacons, from the graduating class of the seminary, were elevated to the rank of deacon. The sub deacons came to the altar on their knees to receive the rank. After the liturgy, the new deacons, led by Archbishop Gorun Babyan…
On Saturday morning a delegation representing the Executive Committee of the Party, Mr. Mike Kharabian (Chair person) and Mr. Haroutiun Yerganian (a member) met with His Holiness Aram I in his office. They discussed plans for the 100th anniversary commemoration of the Genocide, Armenia-Diaspora relations and cooperation between the Armenian political parties. Catholicos…
As part of the celebrative events of 2013, Year of the Armenian Mother, around 200 women met with His Holiness Aram I. After his warm welcome, the Catholicos said, “Celebrating the year of the Armenian Mother should become integral to our daily lives. The Armenian mother is the foundation of our nation and, hence, should…
On Saturday 15 May 2013, representatives of churches and communities from Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Qatar, Sharja, Kuwait and Bahrain met in Abu Dhabi. Rev. Mesrob Sarkissian, the Pontifical Delegate for Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, represented the Catholicosate of Cilicia. On the eve of the meeting, the new General Secretary of the…
On 11 May a delegation representing the Catholicosate of Cilicia left for Artzakh to inaugurate the “New Cilicia” village, a recently renovated intermediary school and 32 houses for young families and widows of the war. The repopulation of the village is a joint project between the government of Artzakh and the Catholicosate of Cilicia. …
On Tuesday, 14 May 2013, the Ambassador of Romania visited His Holiness Aram I. They discussed the situation in the region, the formation of a new government and the proposed change in Lebanon’s electoral law. They then talked about the historical relationship between the Orthodox Church in Romania and the Armenian Orthodox Church.…
On Saturday 11 May in the evening, His Holiness Aram I received 200 young members of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation movement. After welcoming the youth and the movement leaders, Catholicos Aram I urged them to incorporate their cultural and spiritual heritage as they carry out their important role of shaping the future of…
On Friday 10 May 2013, the Executive Committee met, headed by Maronite Bishop Samir Mazloum. The Assembly was created six years ago with the aim of coordinating the activities and the human and material resources of Christian communities in the region in order to contribute effectively to their societies. The Holy See of Cilicia is…
The Committee, jointly appointed by His Holiness Karekin II, Holy See of Etchmiadzin, and His Holiness Aram I, Holy See of Cilicia, met for the fifth time in Holy Etchmiadzin 7-8 May 2013. The two Co-Chairs, Archbishop Yeznik Bedrossian (Holy See of Etchmiadzin) and Archbishop Sebouh Sarkissian (Holy See of Cilicia) presided over…
On Friday, 3 May, Dr. Michel Jalkh met with His Holiness Aram I in in Antelias. Dr. Jalkh was recently elected as the General Secretary of the MECC by the Executive Committee at its meeting in Antelias, following the resignation of Rev. Paul Rohanna. The General Secretary wanted to discuss the situation in the region…
Upon receiving the news of the kidnapping of the Greek Orthodox Metropolitan of Aleppo, Paul Yazig,i and the Syriac Orthodox Metropolitan, Yohanna Ibrahim, His Holiness Aram I contacted the two patriarchates. Since then he has been monitoring the fate of the two Metropolitans through his regular consultations with the patriarchates and the Armenian Prelacy in…
His Holiness Karekin II Catholicos of All Armenians, Holy See of Etchmiadzin His Holiness Aram I Catholicos of Cilicia, Holy See of Cilicia We demand that Turkey return our confiscated Churches and Church Properties In 2015, Armenians living in the Republics of Armenia and Karabagh and in the diaspora will commemorate the…
On Wednesday 24 April 2013, after the Holy Liturgy and the Memorial Service in front of the Martyr’s Chapel, His Holiness Aram I addressed the thousands of people who had come to honour their martyrs. The Catholicos said, “The memory of our one-and-a-half million martyrs of the 1915 Genocide, organized and implemented by Ottoman…
On Sunday 22 April 2013, His Holiness Aram I organzed a special reception in honor of the President of the Federation of Protestant Churches in Switzerland Dr. Gottfried Locher at the Main Hall of the Catholicosate. Catholicos Aram I had invited Dr. Locher and Rev. Serge Fornerod the Chief Officer for Ecumenical and International relations…
Upon the invitation of His Holiness Aram I the Board of the Swiss Armenian Foundation met at the Catholicosate of Cilicia in Antelias. The Fund was established by the Swiss Friends of the Armenians during the Genocide to assist the survivors. After several years the Foundation was reorganized and its ownership was transferred to…
Following his enthronization, Pope Francis wrote to His Holiness Aram I and thanked him for the delegation he sent at his enthronement ceremony. Here is the text of the letter of His Holiness. To His Holiness Aram I Catholicos of Cilicia of the Armenians In these days following the solemn inauguration of my…
During the recent Book Fair held at Earl Court in London from 15 to 17 April 2013, the two Publishing Houses exhibited their publications in Armenian and other languages on Church History, history of the Armenians and other documents related to the Armenian Genocide. Mr. Khatchik Dedeyan the Chancillor of the Catholicosate of Cilicia was…
The University in Salzburg in cooperation with the Holy See of Etchmiadzin and the Holy See of Cilicia organized an international conference on “Monasticism in the Armenian Churches” from 14-17 April 2013. The conference began with a Benedictine vespers at the St. Peter’s Cathedral. On Monday 15 April, Archbishop Nareg Alemezian the Ecumenical Officer…
On Tuesday 16 April 2013, His Eminence Metropolitan George Saliba and representatives of the Syriac Orthodox community met with His Holiness Aram I. After transmitting the brotherly greetings of the Patriarch, the Metropolitan introduced the representatives from Lebanon and the Netherlands, and said that the purpose of the visit was to discuss cooperation between the…
“THE TWO CATHOLICOI SERVED THE CATHOLICOSATE OF CILICIA WITH LOYALTY AND SELFLESS DEVOTION” SAID HIS HOLINESS ARAM I 2013 marks the 50th anniversary of the death of Zareh I and the 30th anniversary of Khoren I. A special event organized by His Holiness Aram I was held on Friday 12 February at the ‘Cilicia’…
As a President of the MECC, His Holiness Aram I presided over and hosted the meeting. The meeting began with a business session, during which the church representatives discussed administrative and financial issues, the situation of Christians in Syria and Egypt, humanitarian assistance to refugees and the urgency for Christian-Muslim dialogue. During the…
Archbishop Sebouh Sarkissian, Prelate of the Armenian Diocese of Tehran, and Rev. Papken Charian, Prelate of the Armenian Diocese of Isphahan, attended the ceremony on behalf of His Holiness Aram I.
Upon the encouragement of His Holiness Aram I, the Armenian Studies Department of the Catholicosate of Cilicia organized the fourth annual schools competition from 2 March to 7 April in Antelias. Once more, 115 students from 14 Tertiary and 10 Secondary Armenian Schools in Lebanon participated. The competition covered the following disciplines: Armenian language and…
“OUR UNITED POSITION AND OUR DEMNAD FOR COMPENSATION SHOULD BE THE FOCUS OF THE 100th ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATIONS OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE” SAID HIS HOLINESS ARAM I On 6 April 2013, His Holiness Aram I opened the consultation organized by the Lebanon Committee of the 100th Anniversary Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide, held at the…
The former General Secretary of the EGCF, Huibert Van Beek, and his successor, Larry Miller, visited His Holiness Aram I as part of their wider visit to the churches in the region. Archbishop Nareg Alemezian the Ecumenical Officer accompanied the guests. During the meeting, the secretaries discussed the role of EGCF in the…
On Easter Sunday, His Holiness Aram I celebrated the Holy Liturgy. The victory of justice through the Resurrection of Christ was the focus of his message. “God created the world where justice and peace should prevail”; “however,” he continued, “injustice and oppression dominated God’s creation. The Son of God came to the world to re-establish…
“LET THE MESSAGE OF THE LOVE OF JESUS CHRIST BECOME THE AXIS OF OUR LIVES” SAID CATHOLICOS ARAM I On Maundy Thursday a large number of Armenians assisted the morning service, the service of Repentance, and the Holy Liturgy that followed at St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral in Antelias, over which His Holiness Aram…
During the evening service in Antelias on Great and Holy Tuesday, the Armenian Orthodox Church commemorated the parable of the Ten Maidens. After prayers and hymns on the theme, reminding the faithful to be prepared for the Day of Judgment, the priest read the parable (Matthew 25:14-30). As is the tradition, during the Gospel reading,…
On 24 March, Palm Sunday, the cathedral and the courtyard in Antelias were packed with children and their parents who had come to celebrate the triumphant entrance of Jesus to Jerusalem. Palm Sunday is also the “Day of the Armenian Child,” which was instituted by His Holiness Aram I soon after his consecration as Catholicos…
Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian represented the Catholicosate at the enthronement of Justin Welby as the new Archbishop of Canterbury. Archbishop Moushegh later met with the Archbishop and conveyed the greetings of His Holiness Aram I. Earlier, in a letter, Catholicos Aram I expressed his good wishes to Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby and stated his…
On Tuesday 19 March 2013, the delegates representing His Holiness Aram I attended the enthronement of Pope Francis I at St. Peter’s Cathedral. The delegation consisted of Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate of the Western Diocese of the USA, Archbishop Nareg Alemezian, Ecumenical Officer, and benefactors Alecco and Annie Bezikian. On Wednesday, the delegates met with…
The feast of the entrance of St. Gregory the Illuminator into the dungeon is a period of pilgrimage and prayers at the Cathedral named after the Saint in Antelias. The feast also coincides with the Sixth Sunday of Lent, when the church remembers the first and second comings of Christ. The pilgrimage, which…
On the occasion of a special event organized by the friends of the University of California, Los Angeles Armenian Studies Department, His Holiness Aram I sent a letter recognizing the contribution of Professor Richard Hovhannessian to Armenian Genocide Studies. The letter was given to Professor Hovhannessian by Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian during a ceremony at…
In a letter addressed to His Holiness Pope Francis I, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I congratulated the election of the Pope “with profound spiritual joy and in the spirit of Christian love and fellowship”, expressing hope that “at these challenging times, facing the Roman Catholic Church, his election will bring a new hope towards the…
On Thursday 14 March 2013, under the patronage of His Holiness Aram I, the Department of Christian Education of the Catholicosate of Cilicia organized a spiritual concert, accompanied with meditation. The Armash Choir of the Seminary, conducted by Rev. Torkom Donoyan, sang spiritual hymns of the season, and five monks led the meditations. …
On Sunday, 3 March 2013, Archbishop Avak Assadourian and Bishop Ashod Menatsakanian from the Holy See of Etchmiadzin and Archbishops Gorun Babian and Nareg Alemezian from the Holy See of Cilicia represented the Armenian Orthodox Church at the enthronement of His Holiness Patriarch Abuna Mathias in Addis Ababa. During the ceremony, Archbishop Gorun read…
After a series of consultations on the usage of the Western Armenian language today, His Holiness Aram I nominated a committee of specialists to study its current usage in the diaspora. The Committee, in cooperation with the Armenian Studies department of the Catholicosate announced the establishment of the first six-month intensive course which runs from…
His Holiness Aram I sent a letter of congratulations to Nicos Anastiadis, the new President-elect of the Republic of Cyprus. In his letter, the Catholicos wrote, “Our churches share identical histories, similar traditions and common values. Both our churches and people advocate justice and human rights. The challenges addressed to our people and the world…
During the week His Holiness Aram I held meetings with ecumenical guests visiting Lebanon. He first met with Rev. Leonid Kishkovsky, a former member of the Central Committee of the World Council of Churches (WCC) and the current Chairperson of the international interreligious organization, ‘Religions For Peace’. Rev. Kishkovsky briefed the Catholicos, who is…
19 February 2013, in a letter addressed to President Serge Sarkissian, His Holiness Aram I congratulated him on his re-election for a second term. In his letter, His Holiness assured the President of the support of the Catholicosate of Cilicia in his endeavours to strengthen Armenia, reinforce Armenian-Diaspora relations and defend the just cause…
Upon the request of His Holiness Aram I, Hrair and Maggy Soghomonian, residents of the United Arab Emirates, donated one-and-a-half million U.S. dollars for the construction of a new building at the seminary in Bikfaya. In his letter of appreciation, His Holiness wrote, “We are greatly moved by your generous bequest and its powerful acknowledgement…
On Sunday, 17 February 2013, the newly elect Greek Orthodox Patriarch, John X Yazigi, was enthroned at the St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Beirut. The President, Prime Minister and all the Heads of religious communities in Lebanon were present at the Service. His Holiness Aram I attended the ceremony, accompanied by Archbishop Kegham…
On 16 February 2013, His Holiness Aram I visited the ailing Syrian Orthodox Patriarch, who is currently staying at the Atchane monastery in Lebanon. The Catholicos was accompanied by his assistant, Rev. Mesrob Sarkissian, and the ecumenical officer, Archbishop Nareg Alemezian. After a brief private session, four bishops from the monastery joined for a meeting…
On 15 February 2013, Ashod Kocharian, the Ambassador of Armenia to Lebanon met with His Holiness Aram I. He informed the Catholicos of the decision to hold a special requiem service on 3 March 2013, to honor the memory of the victims of the Sumkait massacres in 1988 by the Ariris. In the end of…
On 14 February the members of the Lebanon Chapter of the Fund met with Catholicos Aram I and handed him a check in the amount of USD 100,000- to provide humanitarian assistance the community in Syria. Upon receiving the check, His Holiness thanked the members of the Pan Armenian Fund for their initiative and…
The last module of the third cycle of the “Roaming College” European Project for Interreligious Learning (EPIL) for Christian and Muslim women was held 2-11 February 2013, in Beirut Lebanon. 37 students, Academic Team and Board members, from Europe and the Middle East, accompanied by the two co-Directors Dr. Reinhild Traitler-Espiritu and Mag. Teny Pirri-Simonian…
11 February 2013 the faithful in the Armenian Orthodox Church began 40 days of Lent, a period of praying, self-inquiry and fasting. Prayer services will be held on Wednesdays and Fridays; His Holiness Aram I will preside over the service and the faithful will do the chanting. After the service, the clergy will lead Bible…
On Friday 8 February 2013, the two spiritual leaders met in Rabué. They discussed ways of reinforcing the unity of Christians in the region and strengthening the Middle East Council of Churches. They also discussed the possibility of celebrating Easter together and proposed organizing a meeting of the Heads of the Churches in the Middle…
“ST. VATANANTZ IS THE SYMBOL OF FAITHFULNESS TO OUR CHRISTIAN FAITH AND TO OUR HOMELAND” On Thursday, the Very Rev. Vaghinag Meloyan celebrated the Holy Liturgy of the feast. For Armenians, St. Vartanantz is the symbol of preserving their faith. It is the commemoration of the battle in 451 when the commander Vartan Mamigonian…
Tuesday 5 February 2013. The Lebanese members of the Executive committee of the MECC, its General Secretary Bishop Paul Rouhana and the Executive staff held an extraordinary meeting presided over by His Holiness Aram I. During the meeting they discussed procedures for the election of a new General Secretary, studied the finances of the Council,…
On Sunday 3 February, following the Holy Liturgy, the clergy and the faithful moved to the Mausoleum where His Holiness Aram I presided over the memorial service in honor of the seven deceased Catholicoi of Cilicia, since its re-establishment in Lebanon following the Armenian Genocide. They remembered Sahak I, Papken I, Bedros I, Karekin I,…
On the occasion of the international day of social workers, the staff of Armenian institutions visited His Holiness Aram I on Friday 1 February 2013. On behalf of the group, Ms. Annie Boudjikanian reported on their work and shared their concerns. In his message, the Catholicos welcomed the group and thanked them for serving the…
1 February 2013. The members met with His Holiness Aram I in his office and reported on their activities and future plans. After listening to the committee’s plans and a brief discussion, the Catholicos proposed that the committee focus its work not only on commemoration but also on activities that would reclaim the stolen…
On Thursday 31 January 2013, the members of the Executive Committee visited the Catholicosate to express their good wishes for 2013 to His Holiness Aram I, and hear his views on the situation in the Middle East and Lebanon. In response to their questions, His Holiness said that Christian-Muslim coexistence is an essential concern…
On Tuesday 29 January 2013 in the morning, His Holiness Aram I received the Metropolitan Ghattas Hazim, Dean of the Theological Faculty, University of Balamand. The representative had come to discuss with the Catholicos political and ecumenical issues related to the region.
The 10th session of the International Theological Dialogue Commission was held in Rome from 23 to 27 January 2013. The Armenian Church was represented by Archbishop Yeznik Bedrossian and Rev. Shahé Ananian from the Holy See of Etchmiadzin and Archbishops Oshagan Choloyan and Nareg Alemezian from the Catholicosate of Cilicia. The representatives of the…
On Sunday 20 January 2013, the week of Prayer for Christian Unity began with an ecumenical prayer at the Syriac Catholic Church in Beirut where His Holiness Aram I was present among the other heads of religious communities in Lebanon. The final closing ecumenical prayers took place Sunday evening at the St. Gregory the Illuminator…
24 January 2013. Last week upon the invitation of His Holiness Aram I, the members of the Council of Laity and the Religious Council of the Central Committee of the National Assembly of the Catholicosate of Cilicia and the Diocesan Bishops met to prepare the National Assembly of the Holy See of Cilicia scheduled for…
On Thursday 24 January 2013, upon receiving the news of the election of Archbishop Nourhan as successor to the late Patriarch Torkom, Catholicos Aram I congratulated the Patriarch personally, and said, “The close relations we have enjoyed with the Patriarchate of Jerusalem should now be strengthened.” The Catholicos then added, “We should strengthen cooperation between…
On Wednesday 16 January 2013, Ambassador Ghadonfar Rokon Abadi met His Holiness Aram I and briefed him on the efforts of his country to bring an end to the crisis in Syria. After listening to the Ambassador, His Holiness stated his position as follows: First, a political solution must be found immediately in order…
On 16 December 2012, representatives of ACUSA, following up an earlier meeting, which had been initiated by His Holiness Aram I, met with the Catholicos to discuss their plans for future activities. The Catholicos appointed a committee of eleven women and men and then discussed priorities. Creating a network of former members of ACUSA in…
Aram Ier : « Aider les Arméniens de Syrie est une priorité pour notre peuple » Le Catholicos de la Grande Maison de Cilicie exhorte le monde arménien à poursuivre son aide aux Arméniens de Syrie plongés dans la tourmente. Interview exclusive (1). France-Arménie : Votre Sainteté, on parle beaucoup ces derniers mois…
On Tuesday 15 January 2013, Sunni and Shi’te scholars representing the Association met Catholicos Aram I and discussed three issues: strengthening Christian and Muslim relations, the social role of religion and the proposed new election law. His Holiness stated his positions as follows: • Christian-Muslim dialogue should be strengthened in the region and particularly…
12 January 2013. The Patriarchal Vicar of the Maronite Church, Archbishop Paul Sayah, visited His Holiness Aram I. The Archbishop briefed the Catholicos on the meeting initiated by Patriarch, Cardinal Rai, on Friday, 11 January, at which he and Maronite political leaders met to discuss issues related to the electoral law. Catholicos Aram I…
‘THE BIRTH OF THE SON OF GOD IS THE RENEWAL OF HUMANITY’ SAID HIS HOLINESS ARAM I On 6 January 2013, the Armenian Orthodox Churches all over the world celebrated Christmas and Epiphany according to the Early Church calendar. The Early Church celebrated both feasts on the same date. With the division of the…
In the past few years, the Catholicosate of Cilicia has celebrated the Year of the Armenian Child, the Armenian Youth and the Armenian Woman. His Holiness Aram I has now declared 2013, the Year of the Armenian Mother. In his Pontifical letter to the Diocesan Bishops, the Catholicos described his expectations as follows: 1.…
“LET US REVIEW THE PAST WITH ACCOUNTABILITY AND EMBRACE THE FUTURE WITH COMMITMENT” SAID HIS HOLINESS ARAM I On 1 January 2013, after the New Year’s thanksgiving Liturgy at St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral in Antelias, His Holiness Aram I received the clergy and laity at the Main Hall of his residence. The…
