PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:
PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon
Armenian version: nian.htm
THE CATHOLICOSATE OF CILICIA PARTICIPATES IN THE 9TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE
MIDDLE EAST COUNCIL OF CHURCHES
The Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) launched its 9th General Assembly
in Paphos, Cyprus on November 27.
His Holiness Aram I delegated five representatives to participate in the
assembly on behalf of the Catholicosate of Cilicia: Archbishop Sebouh
Sarkisian (Primate of the Diocese of Tehran), Bishop Kegham Khatcherian
(Primate of the Diocese of Lebanon), Bishop Nareg Alemezian (Ecumenical
Officer), Dr. Nora Bayrakdarian-Kabakian (Chairwoman of the Ecumenical
Committee) and Dr. Jean Salmanian (a member of the Ecumenical Committee).
Miss Carla Khijoyian (World Council of Churches) and Mrs. Seta Khedeshian
(director of MECC’s Life and Service Unit) also participate in the Assembly.
The Assembly was launched by morning prayers in the Saint Georges Church.
Four sessions were held on the first day of the Assembly.
Welcoming remarks were delivered by the religious and diplomatic
representatives. The participants then ratified the agenda of the meeting,
following which MECC General Secretary Dr. Gerges Saleh read a report on the
organization’s activities for the last four years. After a detailed
discussion of the report, the participants highly praised the work that had
been done with utmost dedication.
The participants then elected the committees of the Assembly. Bishop Kegham
was elected as a member of the Electoral Committee, Dr. Nora as a member of
the Administrative Committee and Dr. Jean as a member of the Reporting
Committee.
MECC was founded in 1974 and groups the families of Eastern Orthodox,
Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Protestant Churches. The Catholicosate of
Cilicia is a founding member of the MECC. The organization’s assemblies are
convened once every four years.
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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.