PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Director
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web: http://www.ArmenianOrthodoxChurch.org/
PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon
Watch our latest videos on YouTube here:
http://www.youtube.com/user/HolySeeOfCilicia
"WE SHOULD EMPHASIZE OUR COMMONALITIES AND LEARN TO RESPECT OUR DIFFERENCES"
HIS HOLINESS ARAM I
A group of twenty journalists representing different media agencies in Iran,
met with His Holiness Aram I at his office. During the interview, Catholicos
Aram I stated: "Christian-Muslim dialogue should have practical expressions
and consequences. What is the purpose of theological dialogues, when, for
example, in Iraq Christians are dying, and in other places they are
persecuted or discriminated against as minorities? All these are happening
because of rising fundamentalism. Based on these realities, I would insist
that the ultimate purpose of any Christian-Muslim dialogue should be to
learn about one another, accept each other as we are, and respect our
differences. No group has the right to impose its understanding of truth,
its faith, its beliefs or values upon another group. Instead, we should
emphasize our commonalities and learn to respect our differences."
Referring to the Christian presence and witness in the Middle East, His
Holiness Aram I said: "Christianity has existed in this region even before
Islam. Christians are part of Middle East history, cultures and
civilizations because they have contributed to their formation and
development". Then, speaking of Armenians in Iran, he said: "For many
centuries, Armenians have been living in Iran and contributing to the
development of Iranian society with their specific Armenian Christian and
cultural values". His Holiness concluded his remarks reminding that "The
challenge today is to build community through cooperation and mutual
understanding."
##
View the photo here:
http://www.armenianorthodoxchurch.org/v04/doc/Photos/Photos523.htm
*****
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the history and
the mission of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, http://www.ArmenianOrthodoxChurch.org The Cilician
Catholicosate, the administrative center of the church is located in
Antelias, Lebanon.
From: A. Papazian
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Director
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web: http://www.ArmenianOrthodoxChurch.org/
PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon
Watch our latest videos on YouTube here:
http://www.youtube.com/user/HolySeeOfCilicia
"WE SHOULD EMPHASIZE OUR COMMONALITIES AND LEARN TO RESPECT OUR DIFFERENCES"
HIS HOLINESS ARAM I
A group of twenty journalists representing different media agencies in Iran,
met with His Holiness Aram I at his office. During the interview, Catholicos
Aram I stated: "Christian-Muslim dialogue should have practical expressions
and consequences. What is the purpose of theological dialogues, when, for
example, in Iraq Christians are dying, and in other places they are
persecuted or discriminated against as minorities? All these are happening
because of rising fundamentalism. Based on these realities, I would insist
that the ultimate purpose of any Christian-Muslim dialogue should be to
learn about one another, accept each other as we are, and respect our
differences. No group has the right to impose its understanding of truth,
its faith, its beliefs or values upon another group. Instead, we should
emphasize our commonalities and learn to respect our differences."
Referring to the Christian presence and witness in the Middle East, His
Holiness Aram I said: "Christianity has existed in this region even before
Islam. Christians are part of Middle East history, cultures and
civilizations because they have contributed to their formation and
development". Then, speaking of Armenians in Iran, he said: "For many
centuries, Armenians have been living in Iran and contributing to the
development of Iranian society with their specific Armenian Christian and
cultural values". His Holiness concluded his remarks reminding that "The
challenge today is to build community through cooperation and mutual
understanding."
##
View the photo here:
http://www.armenianorthodoxchurch.org/v04/doc/Photos/Photos523.htm
*****
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the history and
the mission of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, http://www.ArmenianOrthodoxChurch.org The Cilician
Catholicosate, the administrative center of the church is located in
Antelias, Lebanon.
From: A. Papazian