Press Release
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Father Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:
PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon
Armenian version:
DURI NG A MEETING IN ANTELIAS
BISHOP HUBERT EXPRESSES SUPPORT FOR THE ARMENIAN CAUSE AND ARAM I
DEMANDS MORE FROM GERMANY IN THIS RESPECT
The president of the EKD Council Bishop Wolfgang Hubert expressed his
support for the Armenian Cause following a meeting with the Catholicos of
Cilicia, His Holiness Aram I, in Antelias on October 14. The Bishop visited
Antelias with an official delegation representing the German Churches and
the Ambassador of Germany to Lebanon, Dr. Marius Haas.
His Holiness and the Bishop, two long-time friends, made the focus of their
discussions the recognition of the Armenian Genocide and in that context,
the issue of Turkey’s membership in the European Union.
The two spiritual leaders also discussed various issues including the
importance of Christian-Muslim dialogue in a new world situation as well as
the necessity of strengthening Christianity in the Middle East.
On the Lebanese front, Bishop Hubert talked about his impressions from his
meeting with Prime Minister Fouad Siniora the same day.
The Bishop considered his third visit to Antelias to be historical during a
luncheon organized after the meeting in his honor. Bishop Kegham
Khatcherian, Primate of the Diocese of Lebanon, members of the Cilician
Brotherhood, ministers and Members of Parliament, representatives of
Armenian political parties and organizations and members of ecumenical
committee attended the luncheon.
After welcoming his guests, the His Holiness Aram I commended the brave
position adopted by the German churches in recognizing the Armenian
Genocide. Addressing Bishop Hubert and the German Ambassador, however, His
Holiness stressed that the Armenian nation demands more from Germany as a
defender of human rights.
The Pontiff presented to the German Bishop a copy of "Voices from Germany",
a German book grouping the statements of about 50 German theologians,
politicians, intellectuals, Genocide scholars and human rights activists.
The book was published in Antelias on the occasion of the 90th anniversary
of the Armenian Genocide.
Speaking about the pursuit of the Armenian Cause, the German Spiritual
leader assured that he feels with the Armenians their pain and their
timeless pursuit of justice.
The Bishop also talked about the strong leadership and the great
contribution that His Holiness Aram I brought to the global ecumenical
movement and to the World Council of Churches in particular. "In the field
of ecumenical affairs, one should go thirty years back to trace the start of
our friendship. His Holiness Aram I’s seriousness towards the movement and
its mission is worthy of praise," he said.
Following an exchange of gifts between the two spiritual leaders, the German
delegation visited the Memorial of the Armenian Genocide in the
Catholicosate, where Bishop Hubert prayed for the souls of the one and a
half million victims of the Armenian Genocide.
The meeting also provided an opportunity to look into new prospects for
cooperation between the Armenian and German nations, as well as with the
Armenian and German protestant churches.
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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.