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Antelias: His Holiness Aram I Visits The Armenian Elderly & Orphans

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  • Antelias: His Holiness Aram I Visits The Armenian Elderly & Orphans

    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


    HIS HOLINESS ARAM I VISITS THE ARMENIAN ELDERLY AND ORPHANS


    His Holiness Aram I and Cilician Brotherhood members attended Christmas and
    New Year celebrations in the National Old People's Home for Armenian elderly
    and the "Birds' Nest" orphanage, spreading joy and warmth to the hearts of
    the young and old sheltered Armenians. A delegation from the Cilician
    Brotherhood also visited the Azounieh National Sanitarium and Armenian
    prisoners.

    PONTIFICAL VISIT TO THE NATIONAL OLD PEOPLE'S HOME

    The Armenian Catholicos visited Thursday the Armenian National Old People's
    Home in Bourdj Hammoud, where director Kevork Karaboydjian, the members of
    the Board of Trustees and the sheltered elderly put on a very warm welcome.

    A tangible expression of the Christian Church's humanitarian service
    mission, the Pontiff's visit aimed at spreading the joy of the holidays to
    those in his flock in need of love and care. His Holiness was welcomed and
    cheered amidst joyous smiles and heart-spoken wishes.

    Mr. Karaboyadjian delivered the opening remarks of the luncheon organized on
    this occasion, stressing that in addition to his annual visits, His Holiness
    ' continued support is a driving force for the institution's senior and
    junior employees to further service and commitment.

    The elderly expressed their happiness by singing and performing special
    poems. Others spoke words of gratitude to the Catholicos and the managers of
    the institution.

    At the end of the luncheon, His Holiness addressed the elderly with warm
    wishes on the occasion of Christmas and for the New Year. "You have done all
    you can for our nation and now our nation is doing what it can for taking
    care of your health and providing you with a safe shelter," the Pontiff
    reassured the elderly. He praised the institution's director, members of the
    Board of Trustees, staff and all those who voluntarily commit themselves to
    the service of the sheltered. Finally, he commended all the contributors and
    philanthropists, named and unnamed, for their continued financial support to
    the welfare of the Armenian elderly.

    THE CATHOLICOS VISITS ARMENIAN CHILDREN

    In the afternoon of the same day, His Holiness shared the joy of Christmas
    with Armenian children sheltered in the "Birds' Nest" orphanage under the
    direct care of the Catholicosate of Cilicia. The Pontiff's care for these
    institutions spreads throughout the whole year with the cooperation of its
    Board of Trustees and a special committee he has established himself.

    The Dean of the "Birds' Nest", Rev. Paren Vartanian briefed His Holiness on
    the activities carried out by the institution and its future plans. They
    plant Singing hymns
    The Armenian spiritual leader then attended the Christmas and New Year
    celebration, patiently listening to songs and poems of the innocent
    children, as well as their wishes and dreams for 2007 in their second home
    and shelter.

    Compared to international humanitarian institutions, this small house of the
    Armenian nation is a relatively modern shelter for orphaned Armenian
    children and those from unfortunate families. It is one of the important
    dimensions of the Catholicosate of Cilicia's mission, embodying the Church's
    humanitarian nature.

    In his fatherly words to the Armenian children, the Catholicos called on
    them to be good human beings, exemplary Armenians, hard-working students and
    honest and decent citizens. He also praised all the philanthropists and
    Armenian supporters who hold the "Birds' Nest" close to their hearts both
    financially and morally supporting the Armenian orphans.

    VISIT TO THE ARMENIAN NATIONAL SANITARIUM

    Members of the Cilician Brotherhood visited the Azounieh Armenian National
    Sanitarium congratulating the Christmas and New Year of the sheltered. They
    planted spiritual satisfaction among the elderly and the ill by singing
    hymns, reciting the gospels and performing a number of beautiful songs.

    The brotherhood members also visited the rooms of those confined to bed,
    praying for them and talking with them and thus consoling those suffering
    from physical pains and distanced from their families.

    VISIT TO ARMENIAN PRISONERS

    His Holiness Aram I also delegated Cilician Brotherhood members to bring the
    joy of the season to the cells of Armenian prisoners across Lebanon. They
    performed short church service for the spiritual satisfaction of the
    prisoners, listened their confessions, the difficulties they faced and
    provided them guidance.

    The Brotherhood members also met with the managers of the prison, presenting
    their proposals for the betterment of living conditions in the prison
    specially for Armenian prisoners.

    Christmas gifts were distributed in all the above institutions and the
    Armenian prisoners corresponding to the individual needs of each of the
    sheltered.

    ##
    View the photos here:
    http://www.cathcil.org/v04/doc/Photos/Photos 41.htm
    http://www.cathcil.org/v04/doc/Photos/Photo s42.htm
    http://www.cathcil.org/v04/doc/Photos/Phot os43.htm
    *****
    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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