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
The Feast of Vartanantz
“The ideals of Vartanantz heroes inspires us to defend our Human Rights,”
Said His Holiness Aram I
Antelias – On 27 February 2014, on the Feast of the Vartanantz Heroes,
Catholicos Aram I referred to the writings of the historian Yeghishé, and
reminded the faithful that “Our heroes of the Vartanantz war sacrificed
their lives to defend our one faith, homeland and rights as a Nation.” He
continued, “We are called to face our common problems and challenges with
the same spirit of commitment. Today our people are deserting their
homeland, the global economy is hurting everyone, our Christian faith is
constantly under pressure, and our human rights are being denied. Today,
Vartanantz urges us to celebrate the lives of our heroes and commit
ourselves to staying together, protecting our homeland and demanding justice
for the victims of the Armenian Genocide and the stolen rights of the
survivors.”
After the Holy Liturgy the clergy and faithful for a cultural celebration
with spiritual hymns, poetry by the seminarians.
The Ambassador of Canada visits His Holiness Aram I
Antelias – On Tuesday 24 February 2014, Ambassador Hilary Childs-Adams,
accompanied by the Trade and Economic Affairs Attaché of the Embassy
Jean-Philippe Tashjian, visited Catholicos Aram I.
His Holiness described the history of the Catholicosate and its mission in
the Diaspora, the contribution of the Armenian community to the politics of
peaceful coexistence in Lebanon and the current difficulties of Armenians in
Syria. The Catholicos and Ambassador Childs-Adams also discussed the
Armenian community in Canada.
The Ambassador said that she admired and appreciated the contribution of
the Armenian community in Canada; referring to the Middle East, she affirmed
Canada’s commitment to a politics of moderation and to providing
humanitarian assistance to refugees.
The Catholicosate of Cilicia participates in a Lebanese Ecumenical Meeting
Antelias – During January and February 2014, Rt. Rev. Paren Vartanian
represented the Ecumenical Relations Office of the Catholicosate in the
preparatory meeting towards a major event in May 2014 to discuss “Christians
in the Middle East.
On 23 January 2014, Rt. Rev. Vartanian also participated in the meeting of
the Bible Society Committee for Lebanon and Syria. The committee received
the 2013 activity and financial reports and approved the activities and
budget for 2014.
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