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ANTELIAS: HH Aram I sent condolences to the Holy Synod of the Ethiop

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  • ANTELIAS: HH Aram I sent condolences to the Holy Synod of the Ethiop

    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

    HIS HOLINESS ARAM I SENT CONDOLENCES
    TO THE HOLY SYNOD OF THE ETHIOPIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH

    The funeral of His Holiness Abuna Paulos, Patraiarch of the Ethiopian
    Orthodox church, who died a few days ago, will be held today, August 23 at
    St. Trinity Cathedral in Addis Abeba, in the presence of church leaders,
    foreign dignitaries and government officials. His Eminence Arch. Gomidas
    Ohanian will represent His Holiness Catholicos Aram I and the Holy See of
    Cilicia at the funeral.

    Hereunder the text of the letter of condolences of His Holiness Aram I:

    To the Holy Synod of the sister Ethiopian Orthodox Church
    Addis Abeba
    Ethiopia

    It is with profound sorrow that we have learned of the passing away of His
    Holiness Abuna Paulos, the Patriarch of the sister Ethiopian Orthodox
    Church. Even before our election as heads of our respective Churches, His
    Holiness Abuna Paulos and I had a close collaborative relationship.

    His Holiness opened a new page in the modern history of the Ethiopian
    Orthodox Church: he constructed new churches and formed a new generation of
    clergy; he instituted a number of church-related projects in the area of
    develop - ment; he promoted the churches' social diakonia and reactivated its
    evangelical mission and pastoral outreach; he gave a new impetus to the
    ecumenical en - gagement of the church and strengthened inter-Oriental
    Orthodox unity.

    Within the context of our inter-Oriental Orthodox relations, His Holiness
    wished to organize a second meeting of the heads of the Oriental Orthodox
    Churches in Addis Abeba, in consultation with the leaderships of our family.
    We personally supported this initiative. We also organized a meeting between
    His Holiness Abuna Paulos and His Holiness Shenouda III, the Pope of
    Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, after a period of stagnated
    relations be - tween the two sister churches. Furthermore, we encouraged His
    Holiness to take more active part in the ecumenical movement.

    Our close collaboration led us to meet frequently in Addis Abeba and in the
    headquarters of the Armenian Church's Holy See of Cilicia, in Antelias,
    Lebanon. The goal of His Holiness was to reinvigorate the evangelical
    mission and ecu - menical witness of his church and re-affirm its role in a
    new world context.

    The late Patriarch Abuna Paulos became a strong voice of Africa in
    Christendom, defending the rights of the African people, exposing their
    concerns and expectations, and advocating for the unity of this great
    continent.

    The passing away of His Holiness is, therefore, a great loss for his Church,
    for the Oriental Orthodox family, the ecumenical movement and Africa.
    On this sad occasion, We would like to offer our deepest condolences to the
    Holy Synod of the sister Ethiopian Orthodox Church, to the faithful, to the
    gov - ernment and to the people of Ethiopia.

    We pray to the Almighty God to accept the soul of His Holiness Abuna Paulos
    in His heavenly kingdom. May God bless you all.

    Prayerfully,

    ARAM I
    CATHOLICOS OF CILICIA

    21 August 2012
    Antelias, Lebanon



    From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
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