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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
THE INTER-RELIGIOUS CONFERENCE CONCLUDES IN ANTELIAS CALLING
ON HIS HOLINESS TO PURSUE THE PROCESS HE INITIATED
The participants of the inter-religious conference, organized in Antelias by
the Catholicosate of Cilicia, thanked His Holiness Aram I for organizing the
initiative and called on him to continue the process of inter-religious
dialogue and cooperation among all the religions of the Middle East and
Asia.
The final part of the conference included a special session, which focused
on the essential role of moral values in the life of societies. His Holiness
Souami Parmeshananda (a Hindu delegate from India) and Father Fadi Daou (a
Christian delegate from Lebanon) presented speeches on this topic. Rev.
Haroutioun Selimian from Syria chaired the session.
The participants broke up into small groups and discussed the importance of
moral values and their place in people's lives. In the plenary session,
which followed, they presented their conclusions to the rest of the
participants. In these presentations, members of the groups analyzed the
various issues taken up by the conference and delineated the similarities
and differences in the approaches to these issues taken by the different
religions.
The conference was officially concluded with a special session on the
evening of November 14. Dr. Joan Campbell, Former General Secretary of the
United States Council of Churches, chaired the event.
The closing session provided a platform for the participants to evaluate the
various aspects and achievements of the conference. The delegates all agreed
on the importance of such an initiative for Asia and the Middle East. The
representatives of the Buddhist and Hindu religions, in particular;
expressed gratitude for this first-ever opportunity to interact with
Christian and Muslim spiritual leaders from the Middle East. Expressing
their gratitude to His Holiness Aram I, they asked him to pursue the process
he initiated.
The conference report was then read and adopted.
His Holiness Aram I delivered the concluding remarks of the conference,
during which he emphasized the following issues:
He thanked all the participants for accepting the invitation of the
Catholicosate of Cilicia and coming to Antelias. In this respect, he
particularly praised the efforts of Dina Myriam from the United States and
Teni Simonian from Geneva for organizing the conference.
Secondly, His Holiness stressed that humanity today faces various
difficulties in a world that has grown smaller over time. He pointed out
that it is essential for religions to cooperate as much as possible, and
concluded that the differences between religions should be respected and
should not lead to polarization and isolation. Religions should approach
each other for cooperation and look together for common grounds.
Thirdly, His Holiness stated that religions should seek to become a moral
force and an authority in today's societies, by practicing moral values and
working to spread them.
A delegation of the participants had the opportunity to meet the spiritual
leader of the Shiite Community in Lebanon, Sheikh Abdel Amir Kabalan.
All the participants visited the Birds' Nest in Byblos, where they had
lunch.
A number of spiritual leaders from both regions sent letters to the
conference. These included addresses by His Holiness Matta Amirtanandamayi,
head of an important Hindu organization, Ayatollah Taskiri, head of the
inter-religious department of the Republic of Iran and Prince Hasan Bin
Talal, head of the Christian-Muslim dialogue committee of Jordan.
##
View the photos here: http://www.cathcil.org/v04/doc/Photos/Photos21.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.
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
THE INTER-RELIGIOUS CONFERENCE CONCLUDES IN ANTELIAS CALLING
ON HIS HOLINESS TO PURSUE THE PROCESS HE INITIATED
The participants of the inter-religious conference, organized in Antelias by
the Catholicosate of Cilicia, thanked His Holiness Aram I for organizing the
initiative and called on him to continue the process of inter-religious
dialogue and cooperation among all the religions of the Middle East and
Asia.
The final part of the conference included a special session, which focused
on the essential role of moral values in the life of societies. His Holiness
Souami Parmeshananda (a Hindu delegate from India) and Father Fadi Daou (a
Christian delegate from Lebanon) presented speeches on this topic. Rev.
Haroutioun Selimian from Syria chaired the session.
The participants broke up into small groups and discussed the importance of
moral values and their place in people's lives. In the plenary session,
which followed, they presented their conclusions to the rest of the
participants. In these presentations, members of the groups analyzed the
various issues taken up by the conference and delineated the similarities
and differences in the approaches to these issues taken by the different
religions.
The conference was officially concluded with a special session on the
evening of November 14. Dr. Joan Campbell, Former General Secretary of the
United States Council of Churches, chaired the event.
The closing session provided a platform for the participants to evaluate the
various aspects and achievements of the conference. The delegates all agreed
on the importance of such an initiative for Asia and the Middle East. The
representatives of the Buddhist and Hindu religions, in particular;
expressed gratitude for this first-ever opportunity to interact with
Christian and Muslim spiritual leaders from the Middle East. Expressing
their gratitude to His Holiness Aram I, they asked him to pursue the process
he initiated.
The conference report was then read and adopted.
His Holiness Aram I delivered the concluding remarks of the conference,
during which he emphasized the following issues:
He thanked all the participants for accepting the invitation of the
Catholicosate of Cilicia and coming to Antelias. In this respect, he
particularly praised the efforts of Dina Myriam from the United States and
Teni Simonian from Geneva for organizing the conference.
Secondly, His Holiness stressed that humanity today faces various
difficulties in a world that has grown smaller over time. He pointed out
that it is essential for religions to cooperate as much as possible, and
concluded that the differences between religions should be respected and
should not lead to polarization and isolation. Religions should approach
each other for cooperation and look together for common grounds.
Thirdly, His Holiness stated that religions should seek to become a moral
force and an authority in today's societies, by practicing moral values and
working to spread them.
A delegation of the participants had the opportunity to meet the spiritual
leader of the Shiite Community in Lebanon, Sheikh Abdel Amir Kabalan.
All the participants visited the Birds' Nest in Byblos, where they had
lunch.
A number of spiritual leaders from both regions sent letters to the
conference. These included addresses by His Holiness Matta Amirtanandamayi,
head of an important Hindu organization, Ayatollah Taskiri, head of the
inter-religious department of the Republic of Iran and Prince Hasan Bin
Talal, head of the Christian-Muslim dialogue committee of Jordan.
##
View the photos here: http://www.cathcil.org/v04/doc/Photos/Photos21.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.