On Sunday, April 21st, 2024, during the Divine Liturgy at St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral in Antelias, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, in his Pontifical message to the faithful, spoke of the suffering Armenian population of Artsakh and their struggle. He assured them of the commitment of the Armenian church to seek solutions and affirm…
In 2003, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I initiated a tradition of dedicating each year to a significant aspect of our collective lives. This year, the Catholicos has declared it the “Year of Human Resources Preparation.” On Sunday, January 14th, 2024, during the Divine Liturgy presided over by Catholicos Aram I, HE Arch. Shahan Sarkissian read…
MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS CATHOLICOS ARAM I OF THE GREAT HOUSE OF CILICIA To the Prelates, the clergy, the community authorities of the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia, and to the daughters and sons of our people, On the eve of 2024, with fatherly love, patriarchal blessings, and intense patriotic feelings,…
A NEW ALL-ARMENIAN STRATEGY Soon the year 2023 will be in the past and the New Year will rise in the horizon of our life. Indeed, the past year in the life of our nation was full of terrible hopelessness and profound disappointment. We are living in times full of unpredictable dangers. We are…
During his pontifical visit to Toronto, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I met with the Honorary Consul of the Republic of Lebanon in Toronto Mr. Krikor Postadjian. In attendance were the Prelate of Canada and the pontifical delegation.
On June 11th, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I celebrated the Divine Liturgy and delivered his message at St. Maty Church in Toronto and was assisted by HE Arch. Papken Tcharian and HG Bp. Torkom Donoyan. As June 10 marked the Feast of St. Gregory the Illuminator’s deliverance from the pit [khor virab], His Holiness…
DECLARATION OF HIS HOLINESS CATHOLICOS ARAM I HOLY SEE OF CILICIA To the Prelates, The Clergy, The Community Leaders of the Great House of Cilicia, and to the daughters and sons of our people, On the eve of 2022, from the Mother Monastery of the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia…
By V. Rev. Fr. Barouyr Shernezian Prior to my short trip to the States, I visited His Holiness in his office to receive his blessings. I was privileged and honored to be presented with his new book entitled “Turning to God”; a diary depicting the events during the coronavirus pandemic. It was the best…
TO LIVE WITH THE IMPERATIVE OF THE RESURRECTED LIFE In his epistle to the Colossians, the Apostle Paul reminds us that, “when you were buried with him in baptism, you were also raised with him through faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead” (Colossians 2:12). With the baptism, the…
From the Monastery of Antelias of the Great House of Cilicia, we greet with pontifical blessing, warm Christian love and intense patriotism the World General Assembly, the Religious and Lay Councils of the Central Executive Council, the Prelates, the ecclesiastical class, the community leaders and our beloved people. With deep satisfaction, we note that…
His Holiness Aram I has proclaimed 2020 the “Year of Armenians with Special Needs.” The proclamation of the Catholicos will be read during Divine Liturgy at St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral in Antelias, as well as in all the churches of our prelacies, on Sunday, January 12th, 2020. We invite our faithful to attend…
On Sunday, October 15, 2017, His Holiness Aram I presided over the Holy Liturgy in the Catholicosate of the Holy See of Cilicia. The Holy Liturgy was celebrated by the Dean of the Armenian Theological Seminary Very Rev. Boghos Tinkjian and was dedicated to the feast of Holy Translators. Following the Divine Liturgy, the…
His Holiness Aram I based his Easter sermon on an exhortation by the Catholicos theologian Nerses the Gracious, in which the theologian describes Jesus as “The Gate to Life.” His Holiness said that today people, by falling into a self-centred hedonistic way of life, are in danger of forgetting God, to whom their lives belong.…
26 May 2015. On Tuesday evening, His Holiness Aram I and his delegation arrived at the All Saints Church in Chicago, where Rev. Sahakian, the parish priest, members of the church council, the scouts and the faithful greeted him. After the blessing of the salt and the bread, the Catholicos and his delegation entered…
19 May 2015. On Tuesday evening, following a series of meetings during the day, His Holiness Aram I visited the St. Sarkis Church, accompanied by the Prelate Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, Vicar General Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian and the other members of the delegation. Rev. Nareg Terterian and ecumenical guests welcomed the Catholicos, who, after blessing…
17 May 2015. On Sunday morning His Holiness Aram I celebrated the Holy Liturgy and preached the sermon. Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, Prelate of the Eastern Prelacy, and Bishop Meghrik Parikian, Prelate of Canada, served the Catholicos on the altar. Mr Zohrab Menatsakanian, the representative of the Republic of Armenia at the United Nations, was also…
11 May 2015. On Monday morning, Catholicos Aram I, accompanied by his delegation, visited the Lebanese Embassy in Washington and met with Ambassador Antoine Chedid. His Holiness thanked the Ambassador for receiving him at the airport. They discussed the situation in the Middle East and particularly in Lebanon. The Ambassador informed him of his work…
A legendary Armenian poet, Daniel Varoujan, before his murder by the Ottoman authorities in 1915, wrote: I firmly believe that the coming generations will create a new dawn for the Armenian people… . The history of the Armenian people of the past hundred years was marked by massacres and deportation; it was also marked by…
The following is a Summary of His Holiness Aram I’s message in Holy Etchmiadzin on 23 April 2015. “With the power of the Holy Spirit we repelled the evil” (Book of Hourly Prayers p.65), was the theme of His Holiness Aram I’s message during the Holy Liturgy of Sanctification of the Martyrs of the…
5 April 2015. In his Easter sermon, His Holiness Aram I spoke of the Resurrection of Jesus as the triumph of the Truth, the promise of eternal life and the victory of light over darkness. He told the large number of faithful gathered at St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral for Easter Liturgy that those who…
9 March 2015. As every year, His Holiness Aram I presided over the Arevakal (mid-Lent sunrise service) at St. Nishan Cathedral of the Diocese of Lebanon, the seminary choir performing the service. In his message, the Catholicos reminded the faithful that Lent is a spiritual journey of self-examination. Each Sunday of Lent is named…
2015 is not just another year. As the 100th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, it carries a special meaning, a special message and a special purpose. Every Armenian and the entire nation should reflect on the unique significance and special importance of the occasion. The Armenian Genocide has left its permanent scar on the common…
4 December 2014. On Thursday morning, His Holiness Aram I arrived in Dubai, where he will consecrate the Armenian Church in Abu Dhabi. The Catholical Vicar V. Rev. Mesrob Sarkissian, and representatives of the Armenian Church Council in the United Arab Emirates and members of the community, as well as the Ambassadors of Lebanon and…
23 October 2014. The three day conference concluded with the celebration of the 350th anniversary of the Holy Saviour Monastery, in New Julfa, in the presence of His Holiness Aram I and the Prime Minister of Armenia accompanied by seven Government Ministers. The programme began with the welcome and historical presentation of Mr. Noel…
The following text is a summary of the reflections of H.H. Aram I during the International Summit held 9-11 September 2014 in Washington D.C. Christianity is on the verge of disappearing from the Middle East, where, for centuries, it has existed in harmony with Judaism and Islam. As the Arab Spring has morphed into…
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…
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…
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 Thursday 24 November 2013, His Holiness Aram I received a delegation representing the Publishing Houses in Armenia accompanied by the Director of the office of the Ministry of Culture of Armenia. The head of the Vahé Setian Printing House in Lebanon was also present at the meeting. Catholicos Aram I thanked the guests…
Pontifical Message Addressed to the Prelates of the Dioceses of the Holy See of Cilicia, Members of the Clergy, Church Councils and Community Organizations, And the Faithful of the Armenian Church We greet you from the Holy See of Cilicia in Antelias with Christian love and fatherly blessing, and we pray that 2012 will…
To the Diocesan Prelates, Clergy, Community Leaders, and Faithful of the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia We greet you with pontifical blessings, warm Christian love, and ardent national feelings. At the threshold of the New Year, we wish you a year full of health, happiness, success and divine grace. As you…
ARMENIAN CATHOLICOSATE OF THE GREAT HOUSE OF CILICIA YEAR OF THE ARMENIAN WOMAN 2010 MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS ARAM I, CATHOLICOS OF THE GREAT HOUSE OF CILICIA ANTELIAS To the Diocesan Prelates, Clergymen, National Authorities, And the Armenian Faithful Of the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia On the…
LA VÉRITÉ EFFRAIE MAIS RECONCILIE S.S. Catholicos Aram I La vérité est une valeur sacrée. Cette affirmation constitue le dénominateur commun de multiples conceptions, définitions et formulations de la vérité. La vérité est le fondement de la société et gouverne toutes les structures et dimensions, manifestations et relations de la vie humaine.…
ARMENIAN CATHOLICOSATE OF THE GREAT HOUSE OF CILICIA YEAR OF THE YOUTH 2009 MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS ARAM I, CATHOLICOS OF THE GREAT HOUSE OF CILICIA ANTELIAS To the Diocesan Prelates, Clergymen, National Authorities, And the Armenian Faithful Of the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia On the threshold of…
This is the text of a keynote lecture delivered by His Holiness Catholicos Aram I at an ecumenical consultation, organized by the World Council of Churches, together with Secretaries of Christian World Communions 18.20 October 2008, Geneva, Switzerland. LIVING AS A COMMUNITY WITH ISLAM – CONCERNS, CHALLENGES AND PROMISES – Christians and Muslims…
2008 “YEAR OF CHRISTIAN EDUCATION” PONTIFICAL MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS ARAM I To the Diocesan Prelates, Clergymen, National Representative Assemblies, and the Armenian Faithful of the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia On the threshold of the year 2008, we greet you with pontifical blessing and warm Christian love from the…
A MESSAGE FROM HIS HOLINESS ARAM I TO THE FOURTH ANNUAL SESSION OF THE WORLD PUBLIC FORUM “DIALOGUE OF CIVILIZATIONS” (September 27-October 1, 2006, Rhodes, Greece) I warmly welcome the Fourth Annual Meeting of the World Public Forum “Dialogue of Civilizations”. You are meeting once again to address issues and challenges of common concern.…
THE MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS ARAM I ADDRESSED TO THE INTER-RELIGIOUS CONFERENCE ORGANIZED BY THE RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH 3–5 July 2006, Moscow I would like to express my warm thanks to His Holiness Alexy II, for inviting me to this important gathering of high ranking representatives of the living faiths of the world. Due…
Is Another World Possible? These are the concluding remarks of His Holiness Aram I at the 9th Assembly of the World Council of Churches on 23rd February 2006, Porte Alegre, Brazil. “God, in your grace, transform the world”. With these words, in this Assembly, we prayed and hoped, we reflected and acted.…
The full text of the report of the WCC Moderator His Holiness Aram I Catholicos of Cilicia, addressed to the WCC 9th Assembly held in Porto Alegre, Brazil, 14-23 February 2006. World Council of Churches 9th Assembly 14 to 23 February 2006 Porto Alegre, Brazil Document No. A 01 Report of the Moderator…
FROM REFLECTION TO RECEPTION CHALLENGES FACING THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH-WCC COLLABORATION His Holiness Aram I Catholicos of Cilicia Moderator of the Central Committee World Council of Churches As we, representatives of the World Council of Churches (WCC) and the Roman Catholic Church, embark on a process of reflecting together on the future…
TO THE PRELATES, NATIONAL REPRESENTATIVE ASSEMBLIES OF THE NORTH AMERICAN PRELACIES I greet you from the Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia, in Antelias, Lebanon, with Christian love and Pontifical blessing. I spent almost six weeks with you in Canada and in the United States of America. We met in churches and schools. We met…
Re-commitment to peace with justice By His Holiness Aram I Catholicos of Cilicia and moderator of the WCC Central Committee The United Nations has called on all member states to observe 21 September as the International Day of Peace. In the framework of its Decade to Overcome Violence, the World Council of Churches,…
Renouvellement de l’engagement en faveur de la paix dans la justice par Sa Sainteté Aram Ier Catholicos de Cilicie et président du Comité central du Conseil œcuménique des Eglises Les Nations Unies ont appelé tous leurs Etats membres à observer la Journée internationale de la paix, fixée au 21 septembre. Dans le cadre…
I greet you as Moderator of the World Council of Churches and express my deep appreciation to you for responding to the Council’s invitation. This gathering displays a unique importance for two main reasons: One, this is the first time that an inter-religious conference of such size and scope is taking place at the initiative…
Recognition and Compensation The Way to Reconciliation Once again, I have come as a pilgrim to Deir Zor, to this sacred place imbued with the blood and faith of the Armenian martyrs. For the Armenian people Deir Zor is not merely geographical place or just a reminder of a tragedy pertaining to history. Deir…
CONFESSION ET JUSTICE : LA VOIE DE LA RECONCILIATION Par Sa Sainteté Le Catholicos ARAM I Dans le monde fragmenté d’aujourd’hui, la réconciliation revêt une importance majeure et doit constituer une priorité pour la Communauté Internationale. Dans la reconstruction d’un monde meilleur, plusieurs génocides impunis ainsi que maintes conflits et questions relevant des…
HEALING EMPOWERING, TRANSFORMING AND RECONCILING ACT OF THE CHURCH The dawn of the 21st century is marked by growing uncertainty and anxiety. The world in which we live is broken, a world dominated by evil forces that are generating a culture of violence and hopelessness. The signs of the times are clear: the AIDS…
ENCYCLICAL OF HIS HOLINESS ARAM I, CATHOLICOS OF THE GREAT HOUSE OF CILICIA, ON THE OCCASION OF THE 1600TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE INVENTION OF THE ARMENIAN ALPHABET ARAM Servant of Jesus Christ and, by the will of the incomprehensible God and by the selection of our Nation, Chief Bishop and Catholicos of the Great…
BETHLÉHEM, SOURCE DE VIE ÉTERNELLE Parlant de l’Incarnation du Fils de Dieu, l’Apôtre Saint Jean dit: Dieu a tant aimé le monde qu’il a donné son Fils unique, pour que tout homme qui croit en lui ne périsse pas mais ait la vie éternelle (Jn 3,16). Dieu devint homme, afin d’offrir à l’homme…
ENCYCLICAL OF HIS HOLINESS ARAM I, CATHOLICOS OF THE GREAT HOUSE OF CILICIA, ON THE OCCASION OF THE 90TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE ARAM I Servant of Jesus Christ and, by the will of the incomprehensible God and by the selection of our Nation, Chief Bishop and Catholicos of the Great House…
ECUMENISM IN PROCESS OF TRANSFORMATION Problems, challenges and prospects His Holiness Aram I Catholicos of Cilicia Moderator of the Central Committee Of the World Council of Churches Consultation on Ecumenism in the 21st Century Chavannes-de-Bogis, Switzerland 30 November 2004 ECUMENISM IN PROCESS OF TRANSFORMATION Problems, challenges and prospects The repercussions…
Impunity perpetrates injustice This Conference on “Genocide, Impunity and Justice” organized by the Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia, will undoubtedly bring a particular contribution to the Armenian Church’s engagement in the promotion of justice, peace and human rights. The 20th century was an age of genocides. With the Declaration of Human Rights in 1948…
THE ARMENIAN PEOPLE STAND WITH THE PEOPLE OF RWANDA His Holiness Aram I As we come together in this stadium let us say together “glory be to God”, because He has brought us together as one people of God. Let us say together, “glory be to God”, because there is hope for Africa.…
GENOCIDES IN THE 20THE CENTURY AND LESSONS TO HUMANITY (A Brief Reflection) His Holiness Aram I The 20th Century was an age of genocides, and the list is depressingly long: Armenians, Jews, Cambodians, Kurds, Tutsis, Croats, Muslims, Albanians. The international community was always slow to respond to these mass killings, and in some…
TOWARDS THE NEW ECUMENICAL CONFIGURATION FOR THE 21ST CENTURY It is a profound spiritual joy to greet you in this center of the Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia. Since its formation late in the first century and its in- stitutionalization at the beginning of the fourth century, the Armenian Orthodox Church, with its theological broadmindedness,…
Complexities of the world urge religions to move from co-existing to acting together His Holiness Aram I Catholicos of Cilicia This is the text of the annual report of His Holiness Aram I presented to the Central Committee of the World Council of Churches on Tuesday 26 August 2003 in Geneva, Switzerland. His…
MULTILATERALISM: THE BASIS OF A NEW WORLD ORDER Aram I Catholicos of Cilicia The events of September 11th brought into question the conventional understanding of power. They demonstrated to the world that arrogance of power and vulnerability of power are intertwined. September 11th happened against the background of a world characterized by terrorism,…
LE MULTILATÉRALISME: FONDEMENT D’UN NOUVEL ORDRE MONDIAL Les événements du 11 septembre ont changé le cours de l’histoire. Ils ont révélé aussi bien l’arrogance du pouvoir que sa vulnérabilité. Ils ont exprimé le degré de haine et de méfiance dans le monde d’aujourd’hui. Le 11 septembre demeurera un rappel tangible et douloureux d’un monde…
ÊTRE CHRÉTIEN, C’EST UN COMBAT SPIRITUEL L’Incarnation de Dieu est décrite dans l’Évangile comme Emmanuel, c’est à dire Dieu avec nous. C’est là l’essence même de la révélation divine. Dans la théologie chrétienne la révélation de Dieu c’est précisément être avec l’homme, révéler Son amour envers Sa créature, engager le dialogue avec elle. Ce…
L’Arménie et la Nation Arménienne au carrefour des nations et des cultures C’est une grande joie pour moi de vous saluer dans l’esprit de fraternité et d’amour chrétiens. Vous êtes assemblés au Sénat, un des bastions de la haute politique française, afin de débattre ensemble des soucis et des perspectives concernant le présent et…
CHALLENGES FACING CHRISTIAN-MUSLIM DIALOGUE Introductory Remarks It is a great pleasure and special joy to welcome you to the Ecumenical Center. The World Council of Churches is a global fellowship of churches, which, through common reflection and action, calls the churches to closer collaboration and common witness aimed at the visible unity of the…
WORLD COUNCIL OF CHURCHES CENTRAL COMMITTEE Geneva, Switzerland 26 August – 3 September 2002 REPORT OF THE MODERATOR 1. The World Council of Churches was mandated by its 8th Assembly to take up the challenge of globalization as a central part of its agenda. In taking up this challenge, the Council has focused…
LA FRANCOPHONIE : UN ENGAGEMENT POUR LES DROITS DE L’HOMME par S.S. Aram I Catholicos de Cilicie La prochaine réunion des chefs d’état des pays francophones à Beyrouth est un grand événement pour le Moyen-Orient en général et le Liban en particulier. Il est certain que cette rencontre ouvrira une page nouvelle dans l’histoire…
FROM CO-EXISTING TO LIVING TOGETHER (Some observations) 1) Pluralism is a salient feature of modern society. East and West, North and South are no longer sharply divided in terms of religion, culture and economy. Boundaries have disappeared. Walls have been destroyed. Pluralism, coupled with globalization, imposes a way of life that is marked by…
1) Pluralism is a salient feature of modern society. East and West, North and South are no longer sharply divided in terms of religion, culture and economy. Boundaries have disappeared. Walls have been destroyed. Pluralism, coupled with globalization, imposes a way of life that is marked by dialogical inter-action. Nations, cultures, religions and civilizations do…
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON THE GLOBAL PRESERVATION OF SACRED SITES November 9–11, 2001 Taipei, Taiwan I send to you my greetings in the spirit of the unity of humankind from the headquarters of the Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia of the Armenian Church, in Antelias, Lebanon. I also greet the Venerable Dharma Master Hsin Tao,…
INTOLERANCE: AN EVIL THAT MUST BE ERADICATED HIS HOLINESS ARAM I This Is the text of the message of His Holiness Aram I addresses to the International conference of United Nations, on racism which will take place from 28-7th September 2001 Durban, South Africa. This message of His Holiness was written upon the…
THE HOLY MURON: A SOURCE OF SPIRITUAL RENEWAL O Holy Church, be joyful, because today the earth becomes heaven with your renewal. These simple yet mighty words of the hymn once more echo in our hearts on this unique spiritual moment in the life of the Armenian Orthodox Church. “Be joyful” Armenian…
THE WITNESS OF THE ARMENIAN CHURCH IN THE MIDDLE EAST – SOME FACTS AND PERSPECTIVES – The 1700 years of Armenian Christianity can be depicted as a pilgrimage of faith; indeed, a pilgrimage of faith that started with the preaching and martyrdom of the two apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, St. Thaddeus…
