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Antelias: His Holiness Aram I meets with the spiritual leaders of Ar

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  • Antelias: His Holiness Aram I meets with the spiritual leaders of Ar

    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 MEETS WITH THE SPIRITUAL LEADERS OF THE ARMENIAN
    CATHOLIC
    AND ARMENIAN EVANGELICAL CHURCHES

    His Holiness Aram I met with the spiritual leaders of the Armenian Catholic
    and Evangelical Churches in two separate meetings on October 30. V. Rev. Fr.
    Norayr Ashekian, V. Rev. Fr. Krikor Chiftjian and Mr. Tsolag Tutelian from
    the Central Executive Council of the Catholicosate accompanied His Holiness.

    The meeting with Patriarch Nerses Bedros Tarmouni XIX was held in the
    presence of several Armenian Catholic Bishops and priests. His Holiness then
    met Rev. Meguerditch Karageozian, President of Armenian Evangelical Churches
    in the Near East. The President of Haigazian University, Rev. Dr. Paul
    Haidostian as well as several Evangelical pastors and community leaders also
    attended.

    The main focus of the talks was the relationship between Armenia and the
    Diaspora particularly in light of the Third Armenia-Diaspora conference held
    this summer in Yerevan. The three spiritual leaders also discussed the
    importance of strengthening the Diaspora and reviving Armenian schools in
    particular. They reiterated the crucial importance of preserving the
    internal unity of the Armenian community of Lebanon.

    On these and other issues, all three highlighted the role of close
    cooperation between the Armenian Orthodox, Catholic and Evangelical Churches
    and the adoption of united stands towards issues of national concern.

    Following these two meetings, His Holiness made the following statement:

    "The main purpose of our meetings was the reinforcement of our internal
    national unity. There might be difference in our approaches and evaluations,
    but we consider that a natural phenomenon in the life of any nation.
    However, it is essential that our communities, our nation become united in
    basic issues affecting our life. Today more than ever, it is imperative that
    we gather around pan-national projects and visions."

    "The Armenian community of Lebanon should concretely prove that it has a
    unique role and place in the life of our nation in general and the Diaspora
    in particular. Therefore, the energizing of our institutions and in this
    context the revival of the Armenian school, the backbone of the Armenian
    community of Lebanon, should become a priority for all of us. The stronger
    an Armenian school becomes, the stronger an Armenian community becomes."

    "The Catholicosate of Cilicia and We personally in cooperation with the
    "Gulbenkian", "Lincy" and "Khatchig Babikian" Foundations, are striving to
    keep the Armenian school strong in its educational mission. Financial
    assistance alone, however, is not enough. It is our expectation that
    Armenian parents send their children to Armenian schools. An Armenian school
    becomes truly an Armenian School when it is filled with Armenian students;
    when it conveys the Armenian language, religion and history as a spirit,
    faith and commitment to Armenian students, making them the pillar of
    Christian Armenian formation. Therefore, Christian education and Armenian
    education for us, are closely interconnected; they are two dimensions of one
    process", said His Holiness Aram I.

    The Pontiff concluded by calling on the Lebanese Armenian Members of
    Parliament, parties and community leaders to work together for safeguarding
    the rights of the Lebanese Armenian community and for preserving the
    integrity and independence of Lebanon.

    ##

    View photos here: http://www.cathcil.org/v04/doc/Photos/Photos8.htm
    *****

    The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
    the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the Ecumenical
    activities 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.

    From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
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