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Antelias: His Holiness Aram I addresses a youth gathering in Detroit

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  • Antelias: His Holiness Aram I addresses a youth gathering in Detroit

    Press Release
    Catholicosate of Cilicia
    Communication and Information Department
    Contact: V.Rev.Father Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
    Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
    Fax: (04) 419724
    E-mail: [email protected]
    Web: http://www.cathcil.org/

    PO Box 70 317
    Antelias-Lebanon

    Armenian version: http://www.cathcil.org/v04/doc/Armenian.htm


    &quo t;THE YOUTH ARE CALLED TO GIVE A NEW VITALITY
    TO THE ARMENIAN CHURCH"
    Said His Holiness Aram I


    In a powerful message addressed to youth gathering in Detroit, USA, on
    Saturday December 2 2006, Catholicos Aram I challenged the Armenian youth to
    take the renewal of the Armenian Church seriously: "We must be proud that
    the Armenian Church is an ancient Church. We must remind ourselves that we
    are the first Christian nation which accepted Christianity as a state
    religion, but at the same time we must realize that our Church direly needs
    renewal."

    After identifying significant aspects of the Armenian Church, His Holiness
    centered his reflection on the necessity of the renewal of the Armenian
    Church: "By renewal I don't understand certain adjustments within the
    framework of the Armenian Liturgy. By renewal I don't mean changing the
    language of the Liturgy or introducing some changes in the administration or
    the structure of the Church. That will be a very superficial and one sided
    perceptional renewal. By renewal I understand making our Church a people's
    Church, impacting the life of our people. By renewal I mean making our
    Church responsive to the needs and expectations of our people. By renewal I
    mean reaffirming the missionary, evangelistic and educational outreach of
    the Church. Therefore, the renewal must be perceived as a process permitting
    the entire life of the Church."

    At the end of his address, His Holiness engaged in dialogue with the youth
    by responding to the many questions related basically to the renewal of the
    Armenian Church.

    The youth gathering, a unique event of its kind in the life of our Church in
    North America, jointly organized by the three prelacies under the
    jurisdiction of the Armenian Catholicosstae of Cilicia, has brought together
    young adults from different parts of the USA and Canada.

    The program of the gathering included testimonies, lectures, panel
    discussions, informal meetings and a musical event. Worship and biblical
    meditations were at heart of this gathering.

    In his remarks Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, Prelate of the Armenian
    Apostolic Church, Eastern USA, stressed the importance of grater
    participation of the youth in our Church life. Through his biblical
    meditation, Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate of the Armenian
    Apostolic Church, Western region, laid the emphasis on serving the spiritual
    needs on people. The Prelate of Canada, Archbishop Khajag Hagopian in his
    turn shared the concern of the youth and invited them to take an active part
    in the reformation of the church.

    The gathering was concluded by a firm commitment of the youth to remain
    faithful to the very team of this event, "Your Church, your future, engage".

    ##
    The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
    the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the history and
    mission of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of the
    Catholicosate, http://www.cathcil.org/ The Cilician Catholicosate, the
    administrative center of the church is located in Antelias, Lebanon.
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