ANTELIAS: HH Aram I Receives Students from Europe and the US majorin

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 Arm I Receives Students from Europe and the United States of
America majoring in Middle East Studies

Anteilas – 26 June 2014. On Thursday 25 students from Germany, the United
Kingdom and the United States of America majoring in Middle East Studies and
accompanied by their professors met with His Holiness Aram I in Antelias.

Catholicos Aram I introduced them to the Armenian Orthodox Church and
spoke of the Christian presence in the Middle East . He also addressed the
issue of ecumenical relations both regionally and globally. During the
question and answer period the Catholicos also spoke of the Armenian
Genocide and Armenian-Turkish relations.

At the end of the meeting, the professor from the Middle East Studies
Department of Oxford University invited His Holiness to Oxford to lecture on
the topic, “The Middle East Today and its Challenges to Christians.”

The Representative of Maronite Patriarch and the Apostolic Nuncio to
Lebanon
Assess the Vatican visit with His Holiness Aram I

Antelias – Upon return of His Holiness Aram I oliness AAafrom the Vatican,
Archbishop Paul Sayyah, the Patriarchal Vicar, visited the Catholicos to
discuss the visit.

His Holiness also received Archbishop Gabriele Giordano Caccia, the
Apostolic Nuncio, to hear the impressions of His Holiness Aram I and
proposals for a follow-up with some of the concerns.

On both occasions the guests discussed the situation in Lebanon and the
status of Presidential elections.

The Leadership of the Social Democrat Henchak Party meet with His Holiness
Aram I

Antelias – On 19 June 2014, a delegation led by the President of the
Central Committee of the party, Hagop Tikranian, and the Vice- President and
Lebanese Member of the Lebanese Parliament, Sebouh Kalpakian, met with
Catholicos Aram I in his office in Antelias. They discussed issues related
to the Armenian community in Lebanon and the forthcoming commemoration of
the 100th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. They agreed that all parties
and interests should coordinate efforts towards the Armenian Cause and adopt
a common strategy.

The Ceremony in Antelias to conclude the 2013-2014 Bible Study Course for
Women

Antelias – The annual Bible Study Course for women, organized by the
Christian Education Department, ended on 17 June 2014. On this occasion His
Holiness Aram I attended the closing ceremony and addressed the 150 women
who followed the course.

The Catholicos quoted 2 Thessalonians 2: 15 “.. stand firm and hold to the
traditions which you were taught, whether by word or mouth or by letter from
us.” He then explained the importance of holding strongly to the traditions,
because, he said, “according to the Apostle, traditions embody Christian
values and ideals that shape identity.” He then noted that Christian
identity is expressed through culture, which is the manifestation of the
social behavior of a people. His Holiness concluded with the following
message: “Our Armenian values, ideals and identity are shaped by our
Christian faith, which the Apostles brought to our country. The Armenian
family, the Church and the school are the social units that guard our
Armenian identity and, therefore, it is the responsibility of parents to
safeguard our Armenian Identity by bringing up their children within these
units.”

Renovations and New Construction Projects in Bikfaya in Prepartion of the
100th Anniversary Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide

Antelias – A committee of architects and engineers nominated by His
Holiness Aram I have been working on transforming the monastery in Bikfaya
to receive the pilgrims, who, in 2015, will come from the diaspora to join
the commemorative events. The area around the Genocide monument is being
expanded and new monuments are being erected to recall the history of the
Genocide and the sufferings of the Armenian people caused by Turkey. New
buildings are being erected to provide space for the clergy as well as for
commemorative activities. Some projects have already been completed and
others will be ready for April 2015.

# #

From: Baghdasarian

http://www.ArmenianOrthodoxChurch.org/
http://armenianorthodoxchurch.org/gallery-2