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
HIS HOLINESS ARAM I CHAIRS THE MEETING OF THE MECC EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
The Executive Committee of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC)
convened in the Kykko Monastery in Cyprus last week.
The MECC was re-structured in 1970 with the inclusion of the region’s
Orthodox Churches. With the participation of Catholic Churches in 1990, the
MECC included all the churches of the Middle East. The Council’s General
Assembly convenes once every four years. The Council is composed of the
executive committee, which includes 30 members, the General Secretary and an
80-member staff. The Council’s headquarters are located in Beirut with
offices in Cyprus, Egypt and Amman.
As one of the Presidents of the Council, His Holiness Aram I actively
participated in the activities of the executive committee. The Primate of
the Diocese of Lebanon, Bishop Kegham Khatcherian, is also a member of the
Executive Committee on behalf of the Armenian Church. The Catholicosate also
has representatives, both spiritual and lay, in several other committees
under the auspices of the MECC.
The report of the MECC General Secretary was presented during the opening
session of the executive committee’s meeting. The participants discussed the
Council’s activities as detailed in the report and its future plans. The
committee then listened to over ten reports from the Council’s departments
and programmes.
The MECC pays special attention to projects in the spheres of education,
social service, human rights, church unity, evangelism and Christian-Muslim
dialogue. Following the presentation of reports, the participants in the
meeting were divided into four groups, which discussed the activities of the
departments and programmes and made proposals for future work. The
participants paid special attention to the Council’s financial situation and
the serious challenges it faces in this respect.
At the end, the executive committee adopted a statement emphasizing the need
to strengthen Christian unity, give new impetus to the Christian-Muslim
dialogue and pursue a justice-based peace in the region. The executive
committee’s next meeting will be held in Beirut.
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View photos here:
tos/Photos315.htm
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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.