Maundy Thursday at the Holy See of Cilicia

“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…

Palm Sunday in Antelias

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…

The Catholicosate of Cilicia represented at the enthronement of the new Archbishop of Canterbury

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…

Delegates of the Catholicosate of Cilicia present at the enthronement of Pope Francis I

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…

His Holiness Aram I sends a letter of blessing Professor emeritus Richard Hovhannessian

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…

The Armenian Studies department of the Catholicosate of Cilicia organizes intensive courses for the perfection of the western Armenian language

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 receives ecumenical visitors

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…

“Hrair and Maggy Soghomonian are the benefactors of the new brotherhood building in Bikfaya” announces His Holiness Aram I

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…

The participants of the European Project for Interreligious Learning (EPIL) meet with His Holiness Aram I in Antelias

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…

His Holiness Aram I receives the Sunday School children celebrating Paregentan (The Great Living Day) before Lent

On Sunday 10 February after the Holy Liturgy, the Sunday school children, disguised in carnival costumes, with their parents and teachers met His Holiness Aram I and received his blessings. He commended the lively Sunday Schools and noted that these schools in all the dioceses of the Catholicosate have been teaching religious education since their…

The Executive Committee of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) meets under the presidency of His Holiness Aram I

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,…

His Holiness Aram I receives the members of the Lebanon chapter of the Armenian Genocide 100th Anniversary Committee

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…

The Armenian Orthodox Church takes part in the 10th Session of the International Joint Roman Catholic-Oriental Orthodox Commission for Theological Dialogue

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…

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…

His Holiness Aram I congratulates Arch. Nourhan Manougian the new Patriarch of Jerusalem

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…

The former members of the Armenian Church University Students Association (ACUSA) meet to set plans for their organization

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…

Representatives of the Association of Muslim Scholars of Lebanon meet with His Holiness Aram I

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…