His Holiness Catholicos Aram I closely monitors the concerning situation surrounding the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem through representatives of the World Council of Churches (WCC) based in Geneva and Jerusalem. According to a message released by the Patriarchate, attached below, approximately 30 unidentified individuals attacked the congregation and the Patriarchate’s office in protest against…
On December 23rd, 2023, The Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Dr. Michel Abs, accompanied by MECC Associate Secretary General Ms. Seta Khedeshian, Director of the Theological and Ecumenical Department Fr. Dr. Antoine Al Ahmar, and the Coordinator of the Ecumenical Musical Event that MECC will hold in 2024 Mr. Marc…
On Thursday, December 28th, 2023, Ambassador Maria Virginia Ruiz Quintar, the recently appointed Argentinian Ambassador to Lebanon, paid an inaugural visit to His Holiness Catholicos Aram I. After His Holiness provided a brief overview of the mission of the Catholicosate, they meeting delved into discussions concerning the prevailing situation in Lebanon, the urgency of…
Archbishop Souren Kataroyan passed away on December 17th, 2023, in Montreal. The final ceremony took place at Sourp Hagop Church in Montreal, with the blessing of His Holiness Catholicos Aram I and presided over and led by HE Arch. Papken Tcharian, the Prelate of Canada. Per Arch. Souren’s wish, his body was transported to…
On December 26th, 2023, the students from the “Zvartnots” Centre for Special Education and Rehabilitation, headed by Ms. Vartineh Ohanian, visited His Holiness Catholicos Aram I. They began their day with a prayer session at St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral, followed by receiving communion. In the Catholicosate garden, the students shared moments with His…
On Sunday, December 24th, 2023, the Feast of St. Stephen the Protodeacon and the first martyr was commemorated at St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral in Antelias, presided over by Holiness Catholicos Aram I. The Divine Liturgy was celebrated by the Prelate of Greece, HE Arch. Kegham Khatcherian, who also delivered the sermon. The Altar service…
Among his holiday visits to various Armenian organizations and institutions in Lebanon, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I takes time to visit the orphans at the Birds’ Nest. As such, on December 21st, 2023, His Holiness and accompanying priests received a warm welcome from the students at the Birds’ Nest orphanage in Byblos. A joyful…
On Thursday, December 21st, 2023, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I received Deputy Head of the Higher Islamic Shiite Council Sheikh Ali Al-Khatib, accompanied by Mufti Sheikh Abdul Amir Shams al-Din, Sheikh Mohammed Hijazi, head of media Mr. Wassef Awada, and member of the Counexecutive council Abdel Salam Shukur. Present alongside His Holiness at the…
His Holiness Catholicos Aram I extended a letter of condolences to the Emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, on the sad occasion of the passing of Emir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. In the letter, His Holiness offers condolences personally and on behalf of the Armenian community in Kuwait. He acknowledges that…
His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, accompanied by Cilician brotherhood priests, visited the Armenian Elderly Home – CAHL on December 19th, 2023. Located in Bourdj Hamoud, the purpose of the visit was to bring Christmas and New Year joy to the elderly residents. The Catholicos and priests were warmly welcomed by the Home’s director, Pastor…
His Holiness Catholicos Aram I visited the Armenian Sanitorium of Azounieh on the morning of Monday, December 18th, 2023, for a Christmas visit. Accompanied by a delegation from the Cilician brotherhood, the Catholicos intended to observe the Christmas and New Year celebrations, offer his pontifical blessings and stay abreast of the sanitorium’s latest developments. …
Members of the Armenian Church University Students Association (ACUSA), headed by their spiritual advisor V. Rev. Fr. Zaven Nadjarian, visited His Holiness Catholicos Aram I on the evening of Saturday, December 16th, 2023. Expressing heartfelt gratitude, Fr. Zaven conveyed appreciation for His Holiness’ unwavering support in their endeavors. He highlighted ACUSA’s dedication to the…
The eve of the feast of St. Jacob of Nisibis (Surp Hagop Medzpina Hayrabed) was solemnly observed at St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral in Antelias, presided over by His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, on Friday, December 15th, 2023. Armenian faithful hold this occasion dear, receiving the saint’s blessing by approaching the relic of St.…
On Wednesday afternoon, December 13th, 2023, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I visited His Beatitude Patriarch Raphaël Bedros XXI of the Armenian Catholic Church at the Catholic Patriarchate. Accompanying His Holiness were HE Arch. Nareg Alemezian, HE Arch. Shahan Sarkissian, director of the Cilicia Museum, V. Rev. Fr. Hovagim Panjarjian, director of the Information and…
On Tuesday, December 12th, 2023, the Armenian ambassador to Lebanon, Vahagn Atapekyan, visited His Holiness Catholicos Aram I. They discussed matters concerning the aftermath of the seizure of Artsakh, the internal affairs of Armenia, and Armenia-Diaspora relations.
On Friday, December 8th, 2023, the Regional Committee of the Armenian Democratic Liberal Party (Ramgavar), headed by the chair Dr. Avedis Dakessian, visited His Holiness Catholicos aram I to brief him on their updates and receive his blessings. In attendance was also the co-chair of the Central Executive Council of the Holy See of…
On December 6th and 7th, HE Arch. Nareg Alemezian conducted official meetings in the Vatican with His Holiness Pope Francis, Cardinal Marc Ouellet, and representatives from the Dicasteries for Promoting Christian Unity and the Eastern Churches. During his meeting with Pope Francis, Arch. Nareg conveyed warm regards from His Holiness Aram I and discussed…
On Friday, December 6th, 2023, the newly formed committee of the “Naregatsi” children’s choir of the Holy See of Cilicia visited His Holiness Catholicos Aram I. The aim of the visit was to inform His Holiness on their upcoming activities and ask for his blessings. Accompanying the committee was V. Rev. Fr. Zaven Nadjarian, the…
His Holiness Catholicos Aram I presided over the fifth online consultation on December 7th, 2023, uniting experts to delve into pressing matters for the Armenians of Artsakh. In attendance were Prof. Ashod Melkonian, Prof. Rupen Safrasdian, Dr. Armen Maroukian, Dr. Vahram Palayan, Dr. Vicken Cheterian, Dr. Khatchig Der Ghougasian, Mr. Shahan Kandaharian, and Aharon…
On December 8th, 2023, the Bourdj Hamoud municipality council, headed by Mayor Mardig Boghossian, visited His Holiness Catholicos Aram I. Mayor Boghossian presented a token symbolizing the Lebanese cedar tree as a gesture of gratitude from the municipality. During the meeting, Council member George Krikorian gave a speech where he expressed gratitude for…
On December 7th, 2023, His Beatitude Patriarch Raphaël Bedros XXI of the Armenian Catholic Church visited His Holiness Catholicos Aram I. The discussion encompassed the recent Vatican Synod of Synodality, the international conference commemorating the 850th anniversary of the passing of St. Nerses the Gracious, the situation of displaced Artsakh Armenians in Armenia, and…
Under the auspices of His Holiness Catholicos Aram I and organized by the Christian Education Department of the Holy See of Cilicia, students from the Sunday school of the Armenian Prelacy of Lebanon gathered at the Catholicosate in Antelias on the morning of Saturday, December 2nd. They participated in the Divine Liturgy, celebrated by the…
With the blessing of His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, HE Arch. Nareg Alemezian and V. Rev. Fr. Bsag Tepirdjian participated in a two-day international conference held from November 30th to December 1st, 2023, commemorating the 850th anniversary of the passing of St. Nerses the Gracious (Shnorhali). The conference was organized by the Pontifical Oriental Institute…
On the evening of Saturday, December 2nd, 2023, Catholicos Aram I received the Committee of the Armenian Church University Students Association (ACUSA), along with their spiritual advisor, V. Rev. Fr. Zaven Nadjarian. Their visit aimed to commence their term with the blessing of His Holiness, share their agenda, and seek his guidance. Fr. Zaven…
During His Holiness Catholicos Aram I’s pontifical visit to the Eastern United States, as previously reported, he was honored with an invitation to serve as the Guest Chaplain of the US House of Representatives. His Holiness delivered the opening prayer before the session, a prayer he composed. In this prayer, he highlighted that “more than…
