Antelias on Easter

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
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PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

“Do not be afraid ..He is risen from the dead”

Antelias – 20 April 2014. On Easter Sunday, Armenian members of the
Lebanese parliament, ministers civil society representatives and more than a
thousand faithful attended the Holy Liturgy at St. Gregory the Illuminator
Cathedral in Antelias. His Holiness Aram I based his Easter sermon on the
message of the angel at the empty tomb of Jesus (Mathew 28:5-7). The
Catholicos said that the cross and the resurrection of Jesus were at the
core of Christian faith and the pattern of Christian history, including
Armenian history. He then added, “In spite of all their suffering, Armenians
continue their journey of faith, upholding the Christian principles of
justice, peace and freedom.”

His Holiness then addressed the current situation of Christians in the
Middle East, Syria and Lebanon. He said that the Middle East is the home of
Christianity and that Christians have remained attached to their land
despite persecutions and sufferings, contributing profoundly to the
flourishing of the region. He then concluded, “Our roots are here and so is
our future.” Addressing the situation in Syria, he said that it was
unacceptable that the Aramaic-speaking population were evicted from the
historical Christian village of Ma’aloula and that the Armenians in Kessab
were attacked by rebels supported by Turkey. The Catholicos asserted that
Christians and Muslims have lived together in these regions for centuries
and will again build their lives together. In the last part of his message,
the Catholicos expressed his hope that the presidential elections in Lebanon
will be held on schedule and that the new president will lead the country
out of the turmoil so that Armenians may contribute fully to strengthening
the unity of the population and rebuilding the country.

Members of the Brotherhood of the Catholicosate of Cilicia assist in Holy
Week Services in all Dioceses

Antelias – This year again His Holiness Aram I assigned the priests
serving at the Catholicosate to assist in the services at the dioceses and
parishes in Lebanon, Latakia (Syria), Cyprus, Tehran, Montreal (Canada) and
Jerusalem.

Commemoration of the Parable of the Ten Maidens in Antelias

Antelias – 15 April 2014. On Great and Holy Tuesday during the evening
service, the Armenian Orthodox Church commemorated the parable of the Ten
Maidens in Antelias. After prayers and hymns on the theme, reminding the
faithful to be prepared for the Day of Judgment, the priest read the parable
(Mathew 25:14-30). As is the tradition, during the Gospel reading, ten young
students from “Yeghisheé Manoukian school presented themselves in front of
the Altar holding candles; the five ‘wise’ women were prepared to wait for
the ‘bridegroom’ with their candles until he arrived, while the other five
‘foolish’ women were unprepared.

After the service, His Holiness Aram I received the ten young women, and
encouraged them to continue to safeguard their faith through the teachings
of the Armenian Church. He also encouraged them to shape their lives around
the Armenian Church, the family, the school and the cultural values. At the
end he blessed them and gave them symbolic gifts.

His Holiness Aram I receives the Chairman of the Higher Judicial Council
of Lebanon

Antelias – 16 April 2014. On Wednesday evening Judge Jean Fahed met with
His Holiness Aram I in Antelias. They discussed the situation in Lebanon and
problems related to the judiciary and the confessional courts. In relation
to the confessional courts, His Holiness emphasized the importance of family
laws for the community.
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