PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:
PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon
Armenian version:
Representatives of the Islamic Republic of Iran and
the Cilician Catholicosate will meet in Antelias, Lebanon
ANTELIAS, LEBANON – The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia will host a
dialogue between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Catholicosate. The
first meeting took place in June 2000, in Tehran, Iran. His Holiness Aram I
took part in this meeting as the guest of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
The Antelias meeting will have two parts. The first part will deal with
theological, moral and social issues related to Christian-Muslim dialogue in
the context of Armeno-Iranian relations and collaboration. The second part
will include representatives from Christian and Muslim dialogue committees,
community leaders and other personalities from the region and will address
mainly issues related to Christian-Muslim collaboration.
Speaking about this conference His Holiness Aram I said: “This meeting is
important for two reasons: First, we have a large and well-established
community in Iran. Therefore, it is vitally important that we together
address issues and challenges pertaining to Armenian-Iranian co-existence.
Second, the world of today is one of dialogue, interaction and
interdependence. The globalized world challenges all religions to identify
and strengthen those common values which sustain the life of societies.
Within this context I consider Christian-Muslim dialogue of crucial
importance. We must accept and respect each other, and we must collaborate
together to face common moral evils that disintegrate our societies,
generate moral decay and distort the image of God in human beings”.
More than two hundred thousands Armenians live in Iran. They are mainly
centered in Tehran, Isfahan and Tabris. The Armenians constitute the largest
Christian minority in the country and they have two deputies in the
parliament.
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The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the Ecumenical
activities of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, The Cilician Catholicosate, the
administrative center of the church is located in Antelias, Lebanon.