His Holiness Catholicos Aram I presided over and conducted the Divine Liturgy on Sunday morning, March 31st, 2024, to celebrate the Feast of the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ at St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral at the Catholicosate of Cilicia in Antelias. During his homily, His Holiness referenced John 16:33, emphasizing Christâs victory over…
Presided over by His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, on the eve of Easter, Saturday, March 30th, the Easter Vigil service (Jrakaluyts) took place during the Divine Liturgy, conducted by the Cathedral’s grand sacristan, HE Arch. Gomidas Ohanian. At the conclusion of the service, the grand sacristan lit a candle from the altar and presented it…
On the evening of March 29th, 2024, a solemn service marked Good Friday, recalling the burial of our Lord Jesus Christ, at St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral in Antelias. His Holiness Catholicos Aram I presided over the service and delivered his message. Quoting 1 Peter 3:18 âFor Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous…
His Holiness Catholicos Aram I led the somber vigil service of Maundy Thursday, marking the Passion of Christ, on March 28th, 2024, at St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral. The service included readings from the Bible and Gospel, the extinguishing of 12 candles, recitation of hymns, and the poignant song “Where are you, my mother?” evoking…
On March 28th, 2024, Holy Thursday observances commenced at St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral in Antelias, presided over by His Holiness Catholicos Aram I. The day began with the Canon of Repentance followed by the morning Eucharist, leading up to the Washing of the Feet Service in the afternoon, and concluding with the evening service…
On Great and Holy Tuesday, during the evening service, the Armenian Church commemorated the parable of the Ten Maidens, in Antelias. Per tradition, during the Gospel reading, ten young students from the Catholicosate Sunday School presented themselves in front of the Altar holding candles; the five âwiseâ women were prepared to wait for the âbridegroomâ…
On Saturday, March 23rd, 2024, a meeting was held between His Holiness Catholicos Aram I and the Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch Moran Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, at the Patriarchal Residence of the Syriac Orthodox church in Atchaneh. The discussions centered around various ecumenical matters. His Holiness was accompanied by HE Arch. Nareg Alemezian and V. Rev.…
On the evening of Palm Sunday, March 24th, 2024, the Opening of the Portals ceremony took place at St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral, presided over by His Holiness Aram I. HE Arch. Shahan Sarkissian conducted the ceremony, symbolizing the Second Coming of Jesus Christ and the opening of the door of Salvation. Archbishop Shahan quoted…
His Holiness Catholicos Aram I presided over the Palm Sunday celebration at the Catholicosate of the Holy See of Cilicia in Antelias on Sunday, March 24th, 2024. Archbishop Shahan Sarkissian celebrated the Divine Liturgy and led the traditional procession, with children, young adults, and all other faithful holding olive branches and following the clergy and…
On Saturday, March 23rd, 2024, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I met with representatives from the three Armenian Political Parties active in Lebanon: Vanig Dakessian (the Social Democrat Hunchakian Party), Hagop Pakradouni (the Armenian Revolutionary Federation), and Dr. Avedis Dakessian (The Armenian Democratic Liberal Party). During the meeting, they discussed the upcoming events commemorating the…
On Wednesday evening, March 20th, 2024, an Ecumenical gathering was hosted by the Catholicosate of Cilicia on the occasion of the WCC General Secretary Prof. Rev. Dr. Jerry Pillayâs inaugural visit to Lebanon. The Ecumenical Officer of the Holy See of Cilicia, V. Rev. Fr. Hrant Tahanian, conveyed the opening remarks. His Holiness Catholicos Aram…
On Friday, March 22nd, 2024, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I received the Armenian Ambassador to Lebanon, Vahakn Atapekyan. They discussed issues pertaining to Armenia and Lebanon.
On Thursday, March 21st, 2024, Rev. Prof. Dr. Jerry Pillay, General Secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC), paid a visit to His Holiness Catholicos Aram I. Accompanying the General Secretary were Carla KhijoyanâWCC Programme Executive for the Middle Eastâand Seta KhedeshianâAssociate Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches. The discussion…
From March 12th to 15th, 2024, the Lay and Religious Councils of the Central Council of the Catholicosate, the prelates of the Holy See of Cilicia, and chairs of the Catholicosateâs diocesan executive councils convened in Antelias, presided over by His Holiness Catholicos Aram I. During the meetings, reports from various departments and committees were…
Under the auspices of His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, the Armenian Church, Holy See of Cilicia observed the Feast of St. Gregory the Illuminatorâs Descent into the Pit (Khor Virab) and the Catholicosateâs Pilgrimage Day on March 17th and 18th, 2024, at St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral in Antelias. On Sunday, March 18th, the Divine…
During the Antelias Pilgrimage Day, sacred relics housed in the Cilicia Museum are unveiled for the faithful. As such, on March 16th, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, along with the Cilician Brotherhood, took out from the Cilicia Museum relics of several saints from the rich heritage of the Catholicosate of Cilicia. Notably, during the Divine…
On the evening of March 16th, 2024, a vigil service marked the eve of the Antelias Pilgrimage Day, which coincides with the feast commemorating St. Gregory the Illuminator’s descent into the Dungeon (Khor Virab). His Holiness Aram I presided over the service and delivered a sermon emphasizing the significance of spiritual rebirth, led by St.…
The Catholicosate of Cilicia has unveiled the Khoren Ayp Center, located in the renovated premises of the former Karageozian and later Souren Khanamirian Armenian school in Leylavanâan Armenian neighborhood in Fanar. This center aims to serve as a hub for youth engagement and various social and academic activities. The official opening ceremony, held on Thursday,…
His Holiness Catholicos Aram I elevated four bishops of the Cilician Brotherhood to the rank of Archbishop: Bp. Magar Ashkarian (Prelate of Aleppo); Bp. Sipan Ketchedjian (Prelate of Isfahan); Bp. Mesrob Sarkissian (Prelate of UAE and Qatar); and Bp. Torkom Donoyan (Prelate of Western Prelacy of the USA). The ceremony took place on Thursday, March…
The World Council of Churches commissions held their inaugural meetingŐ˝ in WCC headquarters in Geneva from the 5th to the 8th of March, 2024 to discuss their strategic plan for the current 8-year cycle. On behalf of the Holy See of Cilicia, Arshav Jerjerian, a member of the Armenian Church University Students Association, participated in…
Presided by His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, the Lay and Religious Councils of the Central Council of the Catholicosate will convene in the coming days. The Religious Council will address religious matters on day one, while the Lay Council will focus on organizational aspects on day two. His Holiness will hold separate meetings with representatives…
His Holiness Catholicos Aram I received the Canadian Ambassador to Lebanon, Stefanie McCollum, accompanied by her political advisor. They discussed matters pertaining to the Lebanese presidential election, the situation of the south and Lebanon, and relations between Lebanon and Canada.
On March 8th, the Cilician Brotherhood and Catholicosate staff gathered for a small celebration honoring the birthday of His Holiness Catholicos Aram I. Together, they expressed their well wishes for His Holiness’s longevity, health, and continued blessed service. During the gathering, His Holiness extended his gratitude and bestowed his paternal blessing upon those present,…
During the recent meetings of three World Council of Churches (WCC) commissions in Geneva, Prof. Dr. Nora Bayrakdarian, representing the Holy See of Cilicia, was elected as vice moderator of the Commission of the Churches on International Affairs. At the session, she delivered a lecture titled âGlobal Governance: Challenges and Emerging Geopolitical Trends.â Prof.…
On Thursday, March 7th, 2024, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I received the Japanese Ambassador to Lebanon, Mr. Magoshi Masayuki. This was the Ambassadorâs inaugural visit to the Catholicosate. During the meeting, His Holiness provided an overview of the Holy See of Cilicia, shedding light on its mission and departments, as well as briefed on…
The Armenian Prelacy of Lebanon joyfully reinstated the cherished tradition of inviting His Holiness Catholicos Aram I to preside over the Mid-Lent sunrise service (Arevakal) at St. Nichan Cathedral on March 6th, 2024. Â Members of the Cilician Brotherhood and the seminarians accompanied His Holiness Aram I, while Armenian high school students and members of…
On Monday, March 4th, 2024, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I received a delegation from the Ethiopian community in Lebanon. Conveying warm fraternal greetings from the spiritual head of the Ethiopian church, they expressed gratitude for His Holinessâ care and support. It is noteworthy that the Ethiopian church does not have a state recognition in…
The Zavarian Students Association (ZSA) of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) marked the beginning of its 120th-anniversary celebrations with a visit to His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, seeking his pontifical blessings for their celebratory year, on Saturday, March 2nd, 2024. Vatche Nadjarian, the ZSA representative on the ARF Central Committee, led the delegation. This…
On Friday, March 1st, 2024, the newly elected Archbishop of Mount Lebanon and Tripoli of the Syriac Orthodox Church, HE Mor Chrysostomos Mikhael Shamoun, visited His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, seeking pontifical blessing for his new role. His Holiness Aram I welcomed the guest expressing well wishes for his pastoral endeavors and highlighting the…
The Regional Committee of the Armenian Relief Cross of Lebanon (ARCL) and the director of the Araxi Boulghourdjian Socio-Medical Center of the ARCL visited His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, on Tuesday, February 27th, 2024, to receive pontifical blessings for their mission. On this occasion, they briefed His Holiness Aram I on their current and forthcoming…
Beirut Governor Marwan Abboud, and Beirut Mayor Abdallah Darwish, accompanied by Beirut Municipality Council member Aram Malian, visited His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, on Thursday, February 29th, 2024. Â Welcoming the visitors, His Holiness commended the Beirut Municipality’s work amid socio-economic challenges. He highlighted the active role of the Armenian community in the Municipality work,…
