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
CHRISTIAN-ARMENIAN VALUES
SHOULD GUIDE ARMENIAN YOUTH TODAY
On Sunday 20 April, at the end of the youth pilgrimage to Der Zor, His
Holiness Aram I addressed the faithful at St. Asdvadzadzin (Mother of God)
Church in Aleppo. He based his sermon on the Biblical verse "I am the way .
(John 14:6). He said, "the word "way" implies direction and goals and
inspires security. One should follow signs to find the correct way. Jesus is
the correct way because he is the way to God. The faith of our people in
Christ guided their journey during the dark periods of their history, and
Gospel values always enriched their lives. We should persist in our journey
founded on the values that emerged from Bethlehem and continued through the
Resurrection."
The second set of values, he said, "are our national and cultural values
that still shape our dreams and hopes. This journey began with the founders
of our nation and its heroes. Despite all upheavals our people remained
loyal to their national and cultural values. We should continue this path
with the same vision and ideals as those of our ancestors."
He then concluded: "These two "ways" are inseparable and are not
contradictory. Historically, our people held them together, received their
strength from both and affirmed their complementarities. By holding them
together, our forefathers inculturated Christianity and strengthened
Armenian identity through Christian values. Today, globalization is imposing
its own values on all peoples. The possibilities offered by globalization
and its sub-cultures are attractive and easy to follow. We should accompany
and guide our youth to choose the "way" that was founded by our ancestors,
based on Christian values and moral and ethical values acquired through our
traditions. This is the purpose and challenge of 2009, the Year of Armenian
Youth.
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Photo: os/Photos377.htm#5
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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 history and
the mission 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.