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PRESS OFFICE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Tel: (212) 686-0710; Fax: (212) 779-3558
Contact: Karine Abalyan
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.armenianchurch-ed.net
July 30, 2010
Diocesan Legate Attends World Religions Summit in Canada Archbishop
Vicken Aykazian, Legate of the Eastern Diocese, represented the Mother
See of Holy Etchmiadzin and the National Council of Churches at the
World Religions Summit in Winnipeg, Canada.
The three-day gathering, held June 21-23, was scheduled on the eve of
the G8 and G20 summits taking place in Muskoka and Toronto, Canada, at
the end of June. (The Group of Eight and Group of Twenty meetings
bring together government leaders and finance ministers to review
global issues and international economic development).
About 80 religious leaders, from more than 20 countries, took part in
the World Religions Summit, which focused on reducing global poverty,
addressing climate change, and improving global security.
His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, and a
founder and current president of the Middle East Council of Churches,
represented the See of Cilicia, accompanied by Archbishop Sebouh
Sarkissian and Archbishop Khajag Hagopian.
At the summit, the Armenian Church's Diocese of Canada was represented
by its Primate, Bishop Bagrat Galstanian, accompanied by Dn. Hagop
Arslanian.
The three focus areas - poverty, climate change, and global security -
reflect the Millennium Development Goals adopted by the United Nations
in 2000. Religious leaders called on governments to pay particular
attention to these issues in the coming years. The deadline for
achieving the goals, as set by the UN member states, is 2015.
In a joint statement issued after the meeting, participants emphasized
that through cooperation and perseverance communities and governments
can affect change worldwide.
"In our diverse faith traditions, we have rich histories and powerful
dreams of ending poverty, caring for the Earth, and being
peace-builders," the statement reads. "While recognizing efforts
already made to address many of these challenges, we expect government
representatives to set aside short-term agendas and work together for
a future that allows all people on this planet to thrive."
Through a series of lectures and workshops, religious leaders spoke
about ways countries might establish development assistance programs,
improve educational opportunities for children, reduce environmental
damage, and prevent military aggression. Representatives of the
Christian,
Bahá'í,
Aboriginal, Buddhist, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim, Shinto, and Sikh
religious traditions took part in the sessions.
"Our faith traditions are steeped in the promotion of love for one
another and deep respect for all humankind; peace and justice walk
hand in hand," they wrote in the joint statement. "Our most inspiring
teachings are stories of reconciliation and compassion. We will
collaborate to create paths of peaceful and sustainable coexistence."
Archbishop Aykazian said the three-day event provided a forum for rich
discussions among the world's religious leaders, and encouraged
participants to synthesize ideas in a way that might be useful to
government officials and other policy makers.
All sessions were held at the University of Winnipeg in Manitoba.
###
Photo attached: Archbishop Vicken Aykazian and Bishop Bagrat
Galstanian at the World Religions Summit in Winnipeg, Canada.
From: A. Papazian
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Tel: (212) 686-0710; Fax: (212) 779-3558
Contact: Karine Abalyan
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.armenianchurch-ed.net
July 30, 2010
Diocesan Legate Attends World Religions Summit in Canada Archbishop
Vicken Aykazian, Legate of the Eastern Diocese, represented the Mother
See of Holy Etchmiadzin and the National Council of Churches at the
World Religions Summit in Winnipeg, Canada.
The three-day gathering, held June 21-23, was scheduled on the eve of
the G8 and G20 summits taking place in Muskoka and Toronto, Canada, at
the end of June. (The Group of Eight and Group of Twenty meetings
bring together government leaders and finance ministers to review
global issues and international economic development).
About 80 religious leaders, from more than 20 countries, took part in
the World Religions Summit, which focused on reducing global poverty,
addressing climate change, and improving global security.
His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, and a
founder and current president of the Middle East Council of Churches,
represented the See of Cilicia, accompanied by Archbishop Sebouh
Sarkissian and Archbishop Khajag Hagopian.
At the summit, the Armenian Church's Diocese of Canada was represented
by its Primate, Bishop Bagrat Galstanian, accompanied by Dn. Hagop
Arslanian.
The three focus areas - poverty, climate change, and global security -
reflect the Millennium Development Goals adopted by the United Nations
in 2000. Religious leaders called on governments to pay particular
attention to these issues in the coming years. The deadline for
achieving the goals, as set by the UN member states, is 2015.
In a joint statement issued after the meeting, participants emphasized
that through cooperation and perseverance communities and governments
can affect change worldwide.
"In our diverse faith traditions, we have rich histories and powerful
dreams of ending poverty, caring for the Earth, and being
peace-builders," the statement reads. "While recognizing efforts
already made to address many of these challenges, we expect government
representatives to set aside short-term agendas and work together for
a future that allows all people on this planet to thrive."
Through a series of lectures and workshops, religious leaders spoke
about ways countries might establish development assistance programs,
improve educational opportunities for children, reduce environmental
damage, and prevent military aggression. Representatives of the
Christian,
Bahá'í,
Aboriginal, Buddhist, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim, Shinto, and Sikh
religious traditions took part in the sessions.
"Our faith traditions are steeped in the promotion of love for one
another and deep respect for all humankind; peace and justice walk
hand in hand," they wrote in the joint statement. "Our most inspiring
teachings are stories of reconciliation and compassion. We will
collaborate to create paths of peaceful and sustainable coexistence."
Archbishop Aykazian said the three-day event provided a forum for rich
discussions among the world's religious leaders, and encouraged
participants to synthesize ideas in a way that might be useful to
government officials and other policy makers.
All sessions were held at the University of Winnipeg in Manitoba.
###
Photo attached: Archbishop Vicken Aykazian and Bishop Bagrat
Galstanian at the World Religions Summit in Winnipeg, Canada.
From: A. Papazian