Over sixty ecumenical officers from the members churches and communions of the World Council of Churches (WCC) convened online from 21-23 March 2023. They aimed to strengthen the engagement of member churches in the life and work of the WCC, share insights from their respective regional and contextual experience, as well as contribute to WCC…
His Holiness Aram I received Simon Karam, Lebanon’s former ambassador to the USA. The main purpose of the visit was to discuss the recent developments of the delayed Lebanese presidential election.
On Thursday, March 30th, 2023, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I received the Executive Board of Project Watan consisting of Board President MP Neemat Frem, and members Dr. Habib Malek, Hassan Al-Husseini, Dr. Asaad Eid, Antoine Kalaydjian, Eddy Khalaf Esq., Antoine Kalaydjian, and Tanie Tabet. Project Watan is an initiative aimed at building a country…
On Tuesday, March 28th, 2023, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I received MP Gebran Bassil, the head of the Free Patriotic Movement, accompanied by two MPs from FPM, to discuss the delayed Lebanese presidential election. MP Hagop Pakradouni, head of the Armenian parliamentary bloc, was also in attendance.
This year marks the 60th anniversary of the Armenian Church University Students Association ACUSA. 60 years ago, a group of Lebanese Armenian university students, led by His Holiness Karekin I Sarkissian, gathered under the roof of the Armenian Church, Holy See of Cilicia, and organized themselves around the values of the Armenian church and culture,…
With the blessing of His Holiness Aram I Catholicos of the Holy See of Cilicia, I had the privilege to participate in KAICIID (The International Dialogue Centre) Fellows Institutional Network Launch in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from 17-18 March 2023. This was my first time participating in a KAICIID event and I had no expectations. My…
On Sunday, March 26th, a group of Armenian physicians from Fresno, who have arrived in Lebanon on a special mission and will be assisting the medical needs of the Armenian community, visited His Holiness Aram I. The delegation was headed by Fresno’s Honorary Consul of Armenia Berj Apkarian. On Monday, March 27th, the Ambassador…
With the blessing of His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, V. Rev. Fr. Barouyr Shernezian—Dean of the Armenian Theological Seminary, participated in the KAICIID’s Fellows Programme for promoting a culture of interreligious dialogue (IRD) and fostering intercultural cooperation on institutional level, which took place on March 17th and 18th, in Malaysia. Fr. Barouyr presented the…
In preparation for a special event commemorating the 850th anniversary of the passing of St. Nerses the Gracious (Shnorhali) in the Vatican, a meeting was held on March 21st, in the Vatican, between H.E. Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, representing the Catholicosate of All Armenians, H.E. Archbishop Nareg Alemezian, representing the Catholicosate of the Holy See of…
The Armenian Church commemorates the Feast of the Decent of St. Gregory the Illuminator into the Pit on the Sixth and final Sunday of Great Lent, known as the Sunday of Advent (Kalsdyan Giragi). On this day, the Holy See of Cilicia also marks the Catholicosate’s Pilgrimage Day. St. Gregory the Illuminator is…
On the occasion of the Catholicosate’s Pilgrimage Day, March 25th, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, accompanied by a group of Cilician brothers, headed to the Cilicia Museum and took out sacred relics. His Holiness placed the relics in a reliquary coffer, which will be revealed to the faithful on Sunday during the Divine Liturgy.
On Thursday, March 23rd, 2023, Boutros Asaker and Ziad Mikati, representing the Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati, visited His Holiness Catholicos Aram I to discuss the delayed presidential election. Boutros Asaker is the diplomatic advisor to PM Mikati, and Ziad Mikati is the Social Development Advisor to PM Mikati.
On Wednesday, March 22nd, 2023, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I received a delegation representing the Diocesan Executive Council of the Armenian Prelacy of Kuwait and its neighboring countries, headed by the Pontifical Vicar of the Prelacy V. Rev. Fr. Bedros Manouelian, to invite His Holiness to Kuwait for a pontifical visit, between May 9-13, 2023.…
A meeting was held between His Holiness Catholicos Aram I and His Beatitude Patriarch Mar Bechara Boutros Rai in Bkerki to discuss the delayed presidential election. In attendance was Lebanese Armenian MP Hagop Pakradouni and Vicar General of the Maronite Patriarchate Archbishop Paul Sayah. Patriarch Rai visited the Catholicosate two months ago to consult with Catholicos…
On Tuesday evening, March 21st, 2023, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I received the Representative of Maronite Patriarch Bechara Rai Archbishop Paul Sayah. The aim of the visit was to consult on behalf of Patriarch Rai on the efforts made regarding the Lebanese presidential election. His Holiness shared his thoughts and stressed the imperative…
On Monday, March 20th, 2023, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I and the pontifical delegation visited the Armenian Nareg School in Nicosia. A special ceremony was prepared by the students who performed songs and poetry to honor the visit, and the principal took the stage to welcome His Holiness and presented briefly the Nareg schools…
A meeting took place between His Holiness Catholicos Aram I and His Beatitude Archbishop Georgios III of Cyprus at the Archbishopric Palace of the Greek Orthodox church in Nicosia, on Monday, March 20th, 2023. The meeting was an opportunity to give a general overview of the historical relationship between the two churches and their…
On Monday, March 20th, 2023, an hour long meeting took place between His Holiness Aram I and the newly-elected President of the Republic of Cyprus Nikos Christodoulides. They discussed issues pertaining to the Armenian Community in Cyprus, the Artsakh blockade, Armenia, Lebanese presidential election, and the role of Cyprus in the Middle East. The meeting concluded with an exchange…
On Sunday, March 19th, 2023, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I received the head of the Theology Department of the University of Nicosia, Professor Christos Economou, accompanied by faculty members. The meeting was an opportunity to learn more about the program of the Department, as well as discuss theological matters.
On Sunday, March 19th, 2023, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I received the Archbishop of Maronites in Cyprus Salim Sfeir, at the Armenian Prelacy of Cyprus. Arch. Sfeir talked about the Maronite community in Cyprus and shed light on the close and fraternal relations between the Maronite and Armenian churches. His Holiness, in turn, highly…
On March 11th, 2023, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I was officially received at the Athens International Airport by a group of Armenian and Greek dignitaries, including the Prelate of the Armenian Prelacy of Greece, Archbishop Kegham Khacherian; the Consul General of Armenia in Greece, Tigran Vardanyan; the Ambassador of Lebanon to Greece, Ghadi al-Khouri; the…
On Saturday, March 11th, 2023, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I departed for Greece for a pontifical visit and will proceed to Cyprus on March 17th. During his visits, His Holiness will hold meetings with diocesan and ecumenical leaders and representatives, state officials, and local organizations. It is noteworthy that the pontifical delegation consists…
A delegation consisting of six cardinals and bishops from the USA visited His Holiness Catholicos Aram I on Friday, March 10th, 2023, to learn about the current situation in Lebanon and the works of the Christian communities. His Holiness offered an overview of the situation of the Christians in the Middle East and their…
The High Commissioner of Diaspora Affairs of the Republic of Armenia, Zareh Sinanyan, visited His Holiness Catholicos Aram I on Friday, March 10th, 2023. During the two-hour visit, Sinanyan briefed His Holiness on his recent tour of the Armenian Communities, outlined his assessments, and underlined the imperative of further strengthening the Armenia-Diaspora relations. …
On Thursday, March 9th, 2023, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I received the Representative of Maronite Patriarch Bechara Rai Archbishop Paul Sayah to discuss the progress of the gatherings in Bkerki regarding the delayed Lebanese presidential election. In attendance was MP Hagop Pakradouni, head of the Armenian parliamentary bloc. It is noteworthy that in January…
On March 8th, 2023, the Cilician Brotherhood, the seminarians and the Catholicosate staff gathered in the atrium of the Catholicosate to celebrate His Holiness Catholicos Aram I’s birthday. Warm speeches were made by H.E. Arch. Gomidas Ohanian—on behalf of the brotherhood, Chancellor Khatchig Dedeyan—on behalf of the staff, and Deacon Serge Keoshgerian—on behalf of the…
On Saturday, March 4th, 2023, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I received Dr. Hratch Kouyoumjian—Chair of the Supreme Council of the Armenian Democratic Liberal Party (Ramgavar) in Antelias. The meeting was an opportunity to discuss issues concerning Armenia, Artsakh, and the diaspora. They emphasized the importance of uniting the strengths of the nation and the role…
On Friday, March 3rd, 2023, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I received the Executive Director of Adyan Foundation Dr. Elie Al Hindy, accompanied by Projects Manager Fadi Badran. Adyan is a foundation for managing diversity, promoting solidarity, and safeguarding human dignity in the Middle East based in Lebanon. Dr. Al Hindy briefed His Holiness…
At the invitation of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity and with the blessing of His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, three young priests: V. Rev. Fr. Ardavazt Sharoyan, V. Rev. Fr. Yeghia Malkhasian, and Fr. Movses Shannakian, participated in the Oriental Orthodox Churches’ study visit to the Vatican on behalf of the Armenian Church, Holy…
A remembrance ceremony for Jirayr Tanielian and the launching of the book dedicated to his legacy was held at the Catholicosate of Cilicia, presided by His Holiness Catholicos Aram I. Speakers Prof. Yervant Der Khatchadourian, Dr. Yervant Kassouni, and Garo Hovhanessian honored his memory, chancellor Khatchig Dedeyan made the opening remarks, and His Holiness Catholicos…
