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
His Holiness Aram I receives a delegation of Roman Catholic Bishops from
Germany
Antelias – 25 April 2014. A delegation of German Bishops, headed by
Archbishop Ludwig Schick, met with His Holiness Aram I as part of their
fact-finding trip in the region. They wanted to hear from His Holiness about
the situation of Christians in the Middle East. After describing the
situation, His Holiness emphasized the importance of strengthening the
internal unity of Christians and providing assistance to the communities to
help the displaced families. Catholicos Aram I also spoke of the
difficulties of Armenians in Syria and informed the delegation of the 100th
anniversary commemorations of the Armenian Genocide in 2015. The visit
ended with an agreement to strengthen relations between the Catholicosate of
Cilicia and the Roman Catholic Church in Germany.
Ordination and Consecration of Bishops in Antelias
Antelias – 26 April 2014. The ordination ceremony began Saturday evening
in the Cathedral where His Holiness Aram I presided over the ritual of the
examination of the faith of Very Rev. Meghrig Parikian (Prelacy of Canada),
Very Rev. Krikor Chiftjian (Prelacy of Aderbadagan in Iran) and Very Rev.
Magar Ashekian (Prelacy of Tehran). Following the reading of the
recommendations of the Dioceses requesting their ordination and prayers, His
Holiness Aram I led them to the ceremony of the confession of the true
Orthodox faith. The priests confessed their faith, signed papers and vowed
to remain loyal to the Catholicosate of Cilicia, to His Holiness Aram I, and
to the Church and its faithful.
On Sunday, His Holiness consecrated the foreheads and right hands of the
three priests with the Holy Muron, gave them their episcopal rings and
declared them Bishops. In his message the Catholicos described the vocation
of the episcopate as service, obedience, humility and accountability to the
people.
At the end of the two-day ordination and consecration ceremony His
Holiness received the new Bishops, Meghrig, Krikor and Magar, and the
pilgrims who had accompanied them for a final blessing.
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From: Baghdasarian