His Holiness Catholicos Aram I is continuing his pontifical visits within the framework of declaring 2023 the Year of the Armenian Diaspora. On this account, he departed for Canada on May 31st, accompanied by V. Rev. Fr. Barouyr Shernezian and the co-chair of the Central Council of the Catholicosate Mr. Krikor Mahseredjian. During his…
A symposium dedicated to the 850th anniversary of the passing of St. Nerses the Gracious (Shnorhali) was held on May 26th, under the auspices of His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, and organized by the Cilicia library. His Holiness Catholicos Aram I addressed the closing session and summarized the legacy of St. Nerses in three…
On Monday evening, May 29th, 2023, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I held a phone conversation with HE Archbishop Nourhan Manougian, the Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem, from Geneva, to address the recent distress raised over the infamous lease of the Jerusalem Armenian Quarter “Goverou Bardez” (“Cow’s Garden”). His Holiness brought to the Patriarch’s attention the concerns expressed by the…
The Holy See of Cilicia, along with the prelacies as well as the community leadership and affiliated structures throughout the world, expresses its full agreement with the statement issued by the National Assembly of the Republic of Artsakh, rejecting any approach that would consider the Republic of Artsakh as an integral part of the territory…
Presided by His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, four young seminarians: Vartan Asayan, Vahe Filikian, Hrag Tashjian, and Tro Guleserian, were ordained as deacons during the Sunday Divine Liturgy on, May 21st, 2023, celebrated by the Prelate of Armenian Church in Greece H.E. Arch. Kegham Katcherian. The sponsor priest V. Rev. Fr. Avedik Der Garabedian…
On Friday, May 19th, the Board of Trustees of the Armenian Sanitorium of Azounieh visited His Holiness Catholicos Aram I and gave a detailed report on their work and upcoming program for which His Holiness commended their efforts, especially during the current economic situation in Lebanon. It is noteworthy to mention that 2023 marks…
On Wednesday, May 17th, 2023, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I received subsequently Dr. Farid El Khazen—the Lebanese Ambassador to the Vatican—and Dr. Simon Karam—the former Lebanese Ambassador to the USA. His Holiness and his visitors discussed issues pertaining to the socioeconomic crisis and the Lebanese presidential election.
Archbishop Paul Sayah—the representative of Maronite Patriarch Bechara Rai—visited His Holiness Catholicos Aram I on Tuesday, May 16th, 2023, to brief on the updates of the consultations taking place in Bkerki regarding the delayed Lebanese presidential election.
In honor of His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, the Executive Committee of the Armenian Prelacy in Kuwait organized a formal dinner, on Saturday, May 13th, that brought together the Kuwaiti Armenians around the Catholicos to conclude the five-day pontifical visit with a lovely evening. Heads of Christian communities in Kuwait, ambassadors, official guests, Kuwaiti Armenians,…
During his Pontifical visit to Kuwait, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I and the former Prime Minister of Kuwait Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Mobarak Al-Sabah had an amicable meeting. In attendance were V. Rev. Fr. Bedros Manouelian, Pontifical Vicar in Kuwait, the Lebanese Ambassador to Kuwait, representatives from the Executive Council of the Prelacy, and…
On the occasion of the 850th commemoration of the passing of St. Nerses Shnorhali (the Gracious), the newly renovated hall of St. Vartanants church in Kuwait was named after the saint. The official opening ceremony of the hall was conducted by His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, on Thursday evening, May 11th, 2023. Pontifical Vicar…
With the blessing of His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, 4 seminarians were ordained as subdeacons, and 10 others as acolytes with an ordination ceremony conducted during the Divine Liturgy by H.E. Archbishop Shahan Sarkissian, on Sunday, May 14th, 2023, at St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral, in Antelias. Rev. Fr. Azad Filikian served as the sponsoring…
On Saturday, May 13th, 2023, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I and the pontifical delegation visited the Vatican Embassy, where they were warmly received by Archbishop Eugene Nugent, Apostolic nuncio to Kuwait, Qatar, and Bahrain. During their meeting, they discussed issues concerning the region, as well as the Christian communities of the region.
His Holiness Catholicos Aram I met with over 80 young Kuwaiti Armenians on Friday evening, May 12th, within the framework of his pontifical visit to Kuwait, to listen to their concerns, share his thoughts on the role of youth in the revitalization process of the Armenian Diaspora and reiterate his support for active youth involvement in the decision-making…
On Friday morning, May 12th, 2023, a Divine Liturgy was celebrated, presided over by His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, at Sts. Vartanantz Church in Kuwait, where the Catholicos addressed the faithful, including ambassadors, and officials, with his pontifical speech. His Holiness expressed his immense joy in visiting Kuwait and meeting with the Armenian community,…
Within the framework of the activities related to the Year of the Armenian Diaspora II, on Thursday evening, May 11th, 2023, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I met with the Kuwaiti Armenian community organizations at St. Nerses Shnorhali atrium, conveyed his guidance and recommendations, and listened to their future plans, suggestions, and worries.
On day three of his pontifical visit to Kuwait, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I and his pontifical delegation visited the Armenian Embassy in Kuwait, where he was received by His Excellency Sarmen Baghdasarian. They discussed topics pertaining to Kuwait-Armenia developing relations and the role of the Kuwaiti Armenian Community in them.
On Thursday, May 11th, 2023, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, accompanied by the pontifical delegation, visited the Armenian school of Kuwait and the Arekag Kindergarten, where he was warmly received by the principals, administration, Board of Trustees, teachers, and students. In honor of His Holiness’ visit, the Kuwaiti Armenian school students welcomed the Catholicos…
On Wednesday morning, May 10th, 2023, the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Kuwait His Excellency Mohammad Irani, accompanied by his Political Advisor, visited His Holiness Catholicos Aram I in the Armenian Prelacy in Kuwait. In attendance was V. Rev. Fr. Bedros Manouelian, Pontifical Vicar. The Ambassador, having previously served in Lebanon,…
On Wednesday, May 10th, 2023, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I and his delegation visited the Lebanese embassy in Kuwait, where they were warmly greeted by the Ambassador His Excellency Ahmad Arafay. On the occasion of the pontifical visit, at the invitation of the Lebanese Ambassador, a dinner was hosted at the embassy, where high-ranking guests, representatives of the Lebanese…
On Tuesday evening, May 9th, 2023, an ecumenical thanksgiving service was conducted in the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Kuwait (church), presided by His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, and organized by heads of churches in Kuwait. Present were heads and faithful from Greek Orthodox, Greek Catholic, Coptic Orthodox, Coptic Catholic, Evangelical, Latin, Maronite, and Armenian…
On Monday, May 8th, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I received HG Bishop Magar Ashkrian, prelate of Peria (Syria), in Antelias. Bishop Magar briefed His Holiness on the activities carried out by the prelacy, especially regarding the aftermath of the devastating earthquake. In turn, His Holiness expressed his commendation to the efforts of the Executive Committee…
On Tuesday morning, May 9th, 2023, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I arrived in Kuwait on a pontifical visit and was officially received by the Pontifical Vicar in Kuwait V. Rev. Fr. Bedros Manouelian, the Ambassador of Lebanon to Kuwait His Excellency Ahmad Arafay, the Ambassador of Armenia to Kuwait His Excellency Sarmen Baghdasarian, the Apostolic…
As part of his pontifical visits of 2023, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I’s next stop is the Armenian Prelacy of Kuwait where he will be staying from May 9th to 14th, 2023, accompanied by V. Rev. Fr. Sarkis Aprahamian— staff bearer, and Stepan Der Bedrossian—co-chair of the Lay Council of the Central Committee of the…
On May 7th, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I received the Lebanese ambassador to the Vatican, Dr. Farid el-Khazen. They discussed Lebanon-Vatican relations and the current situation in Lebanon, especially regarding the delayed presidential election.
Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Paolo Borgia visited His Holiness Catholicos Aram I on Saturday, May 6th, 2023, and extended a letter to from Pope Francis to His Holiness. They also discussed issues concerning Lebanon and the delayed presidential election during the meeting.
On Friday, May 5th, 2023, the newly appointed Canadian ambassador to Lebanon H.E. Stefanie McCollum visited His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, at the Catholicosate of the Holy See of Cilicia. Krikor Mahseredjian—Co-chair of the Central Council of the Catholicosate—and the ambassador’s political advisor were present at the meeting. Since this was the ambassador’s first…
On Wednesday evening, May 3rd, 2023, a consultation meeting on the Lebanese presidential election was held in Bkerke between Catholicos Aram I and Maronite Patriarch Rai. In attendance was MP Hagop Pakradouni. Note that prior to this meeting, the representative of the Lebanese Forces visited His Holiness Aram I to consult on the issue…
Under the auspices of His Holiness Catholicos Aram I and organized by the Cilicia Museum, the 850th anniversary of the passing of St. Nerses the Gracious (Shnorhali) will be commemorated in Antelias with a sacred concert and a symposium on May 25th and 26th respectively. The Shnorhali choir of the Catholicosate, named after the…
