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ARAM I: FEAR INCREASINGLY DOMINATING LIFE OF CHRISTIANS IN MIDDLE EAST
PanARMENIAN.Net
January 25, 2012 - 10:30 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - In his opening remarks to the international
conference on "The Christian Presence and Witness in the Arab World",
taking place at the headquarters of the Armenian Catholicosate of
Cilicia in Antelias, Lebanon, His Holiness Aram I said that "in view
of the changing political landscape in the Arab world, the Christian
communities are called to engage in dialogue with all trends of Islam
which advocates democracy, coexistence and non-violence".
He reminded that Middle East "is at a crucial juncture of its modern
history", and that "although the present situation is depicted by some
as Arab spring or Arab revival and by others, the end of autocracies
and emergence of democratic processes or simply regime change, the
common denominator in all these characterizations is that the region
is in a process of transformation".
Aram I warned the conference of misleading approaches which "may
distance us from concrete realities, such as conceptualizing,
westernizing and generalizing this process of transformation". He
advocated "an existential, not conceptual, a Middle Eastern, not
Western, a contextual, not general approach to the events that are
taking place in the region". According to His Holiness "the region
is still facing uncertainties, ambiguities and polarizations. Hence,
if this process of transformation is not sustained by a strategy of
active non-violence and if it is not led by people with a clear vision,
the region may be exposed to even greater and far-reaching dangers".
Among challenges and priorities before the Christian communities,
Catholicos Aram believes that "the Christian unity must acquire a top
priority; and the Middle East Council of Churches provides the proper
framework for the churches to speak with one voice and act together".
In his opinion the Christian-Muslim dialogue needs to be "broadened
and deepened in its horizontal and vertical dimensions and expressions
to cover the basic concerns and critical issues pertaining to their
common life". His Holiness challenged the Christians and Muslims
"to move from being good neighbors to real partnership as co-citizens.
This partnership must be articulated: by building together democratic
societies, by ensuring for Christians a broader space for active and
full participation in decision-making structures and processes; and
by providing for Christians all the possibilities to preserve their
own values and traditions and organize their community life, being
at the same time integral and inseparable part of larger society".
Catholicos Aram I reminded the conference that "the Christians are
deeply concerned about their future in the Middle East. Uncertainty,
anxiety and fear are increasingly dominating their life. But the
Christians should not turn to their Christian brothers and sisters in
the West; they should turn to their Muslim co-citizens and partners
to share with them their concerns and expectations". It is the firm
expectation of Aram I that "Muslims respond frankly and realistically
to the growing concerns of Christians".
The conference on the Christian presence and witness in the Arab
World is organized by the World Council of Churches in collaboration
with the Middle East Council of Churches. More than seventy people,
Muslims and Christians, from different parts of the Arab world,
including special guests from Europe and North America attend the
conference, reported the Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia.
PanARMENIAN.Net
January 25, 2012 - 10:30 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - In his opening remarks to the international
conference on "The Christian Presence and Witness in the Arab World",
taking place at the headquarters of the Armenian Catholicosate of
Cilicia in Antelias, Lebanon, His Holiness Aram I said that "in view
of the changing political landscape in the Arab world, the Christian
communities are called to engage in dialogue with all trends of Islam
which advocates democracy, coexistence and non-violence".
He reminded that Middle East "is at a crucial juncture of its modern
history", and that "although the present situation is depicted by some
as Arab spring or Arab revival and by others, the end of autocracies
and emergence of democratic processes or simply regime change, the
common denominator in all these characterizations is that the region
is in a process of transformation".
Aram I warned the conference of misleading approaches which "may
distance us from concrete realities, such as conceptualizing,
westernizing and generalizing this process of transformation". He
advocated "an existential, not conceptual, a Middle Eastern, not
Western, a contextual, not general approach to the events that are
taking place in the region". According to His Holiness "the region
is still facing uncertainties, ambiguities and polarizations. Hence,
if this process of transformation is not sustained by a strategy of
active non-violence and if it is not led by people with a clear vision,
the region may be exposed to even greater and far-reaching dangers".
Among challenges and priorities before the Christian communities,
Catholicos Aram believes that "the Christian unity must acquire a top
priority; and the Middle East Council of Churches provides the proper
framework for the churches to speak with one voice and act together".
In his opinion the Christian-Muslim dialogue needs to be "broadened
and deepened in its horizontal and vertical dimensions and expressions
to cover the basic concerns and critical issues pertaining to their
common life". His Holiness challenged the Christians and Muslims
"to move from being good neighbors to real partnership as co-citizens.
This partnership must be articulated: by building together democratic
societies, by ensuring for Christians a broader space for active and
full participation in decision-making structures and processes; and
by providing for Christians all the possibilities to preserve their
own values and traditions and organize their community life, being
at the same time integral and inseparable part of larger society".
Catholicos Aram I reminded the conference that "the Christians are
deeply concerned about their future in the Middle East. Uncertainty,
anxiety and fear are increasingly dominating their life. But the
Christians should not turn to their Christian brothers and sisters in
the West; they should turn to their Muslim co-citizens and partners
to share with them their concerns and expectations". It is the firm
expectation of Aram I that "Muslims respond frankly and realistically
to the growing concerns of Christians".
The conference on the Christian presence and witness in the Arab
World is organized by the World Council of Churches in collaboration
with the Middle East Council of Churches. More than seventy people,
Muslims and Christians, from different parts of the Arab world,
including special guests from Europe and North America attend the
conference, reported the Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia.