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CATHOLICOSATE GENERAL ASSEMBLY CONCLUDES
http://asbarez.com/110741/catholicosate-general-assembly-concludes/
Tuesday, June 18th, 2013
A scene from the Catholicosate General Assembly in Antelias
ANTELIAS, Lebanon-On Wednesday June 12 the General Assembly began its
deliberations under the presidency of His Holiness Catholicos Aram I
with 100 delegates and official guests representing the Prelacies in
the Diaspora taking part in the Assembly. Western Prelate Archbishop
Moushegh Mardirossian headed the Western Prelacy delegation, which
was comprised of fifteen delegates.
During the three-day meeting, the representatives received the reports
of the Executive Council and the Religious and Laity Councils. The
agenda included the following issues: Christian Education, Armenian
language and culture, youth concerns, ecumenical and interfaith
relations and the commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the
Genocide.
Following the elections of the officers of the Assembly, His Holiness
Aram I addressed the session, stating that the Church must respond
to the high expectations of its members. The Catholicos said that
the Church faces three challenges in particular: it must reorganize
the Diaspora, educate the youth according to the spiritual values of
the Church and the ethical and cultural values of the nation, pursue
justice by seeking to restore the rights of the Genocide survivors.
The Catholicos pointed out that the Catholicosate "has inherited
these legacies from Catholicos Sahak, who was deported from the See
of Cilicia by the Ottomans, and his successors." The Catholicosate
stated that "we must renew these legacies with vision and commitment."
The Western Prleacy delegation at Antelias
Starting the second session, the delegates received the reports of
the Central Committee and its Councils. The report of the Executive
Council was followed by the report of the Religious Council. The
Assembly welcomed proposals regarding Christian education and youth
formation. The members were then briefed on the forthcoming meeting of
the Bishops of the Armenian Church, to be presided over by His Holiness
Catholicos Karekin II of All Armenians, Holy See of Etchmiadzin,
and His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, Holy See of Cilicia.
One of the major issues on the agenda will be the reformation of
the Armenian Church. After hearing reports on the ecumenical and
interfaith activities of the Church, the Assembly affirmed the
important role of the Catholicosate of Cilicia in making the Church
known internationally.
Sessions on the second day began with the Lord's Prayer and the
blessings of His Holiness Aram I. The delegates received the report
and recommendations of the Executive Council. The delegates thanked
His Holiness for his guidance concerning their programs and projects,
which have been quite successful despite limited human and financial
resources. The work of the Council was summarized under following
eight headings:
1. Establishment of a Committee of Experts to work on the purification
of Western Armenian and its application in Armenian schools. The
participants also discussed the teaching of religion in Church-related
schools.
2. Creation of an Endowment Fund. His Holiness explained that only
by establishing such a fund will the Catholicosate be able to become
self-reliant and fulfill its mission.
3. Pursuit of the Armenian Cause. Report on the international meetings
initiated by His Holiness Aram I in Antelias, to pursue professionally
the issues of compensation and restitution. The members also took
note of the joint statement of 24 April 2013, regarding the 100th
anniversary of the Genocide, signed by Catholicos Karekin II and
Catholicos Aram I.
4. The situation of Armenians in Syria. His Holiness Aram I described
the difficulties, presented the priority needs of the community,
and reported on the Special Fund created by the Catholicosate and
the contributions of the Dioceses to the Prelacy of Peria (Syria).
5. The economic situation in Greece and the difficulties of the
Prelacy. A member of the delegation of the Diocese reported on the
situation.
6. Antelias-Etchmiadzin Relations. The Assembly reconfirmed its
commitment to work with Etchmiadzin to safeguard the unity of the
church.
7. Relations with the government of Armenia. The Assembly affirmed
the friendly and cordial relations with the government and took note
of the Armenia's response to the achievements of the Catholicosate
of Cilicia internationally.
8. Update on the construction projects of the Catholicosate with
the support of Dioceses and individual philanthropists. The Assembly
received an updated report on the construction of the "New Cilicia"
housing project in Karabakh. The plenary then received information
on the following construction projects in Antelias: Renovation of
the Martyrs' Chapel in Antelias, construction of a new residence for
the clergy in Bikfaya, construction of a new altar and re-designing
of the surroundings of the Martyr's Monument in Bikafaya, renovation
and transformation of the historical building of Birds' Nest in Byblos
to house the Genocide museum.
From: A. Papazian
http://asbarez.com/110741/catholicosate-general-assembly-concludes/
Tuesday, June 18th, 2013
A scene from the Catholicosate General Assembly in Antelias
ANTELIAS, Lebanon-On Wednesday June 12 the General Assembly began its
deliberations under the presidency of His Holiness Catholicos Aram I
with 100 delegates and official guests representing the Prelacies in
the Diaspora taking part in the Assembly. Western Prelate Archbishop
Moushegh Mardirossian headed the Western Prelacy delegation, which
was comprised of fifteen delegates.
During the three-day meeting, the representatives received the reports
of the Executive Council and the Religious and Laity Councils. The
agenda included the following issues: Christian Education, Armenian
language and culture, youth concerns, ecumenical and interfaith
relations and the commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the
Genocide.
Following the elections of the officers of the Assembly, His Holiness
Aram I addressed the session, stating that the Church must respond
to the high expectations of its members. The Catholicos said that
the Church faces three challenges in particular: it must reorganize
the Diaspora, educate the youth according to the spiritual values of
the Church and the ethical and cultural values of the nation, pursue
justice by seeking to restore the rights of the Genocide survivors.
The Catholicos pointed out that the Catholicosate "has inherited
these legacies from Catholicos Sahak, who was deported from the See
of Cilicia by the Ottomans, and his successors." The Catholicosate
stated that "we must renew these legacies with vision and commitment."
The Western Prleacy delegation at Antelias
Starting the second session, the delegates received the reports of
the Central Committee and its Councils. The report of the Executive
Council was followed by the report of the Religious Council. The
Assembly welcomed proposals regarding Christian education and youth
formation. The members were then briefed on the forthcoming meeting of
the Bishops of the Armenian Church, to be presided over by His Holiness
Catholicos Karekin II of All Armenians, Holy See of Etchmiadzin,
and His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, Holy See of Cilicia.
One of the major issues on the agenda will be the reformation of
the Armenian Church. After hearing reports on the ecumenical and
interfaith activities of the Church, the Assembly affirmed the
important role of the Catholicosate of Cilicia in making the Church
known internationally.
Sessions on the second day began with the Lord's Prayer and the
blessings of His Holiness Aram I. The delegates received the report
and recommendations of the Executive Council. The delegates thanked
His Holiness for his guidance concerning their programs and projects,
which have been quite successful despite limited human and financial
resources. The work of the Council was summarized under following
eight headings:
1. Establishment of a Committee of Experts to work on the purification
of Western Armenian and its application in Armenian schools. The
participants also discussed the teaching of religion in Church-related
schools.
2. Creation of an Endowment Fund. His Holiness explained that only
by establishing such a fund will the Catholicosate be able to become
self-reliant and fulfill its mission.
3. Pursuit of the Armenian Cause. Report on the international meetings
initiated by His Holiness Aram I in Antelias, to pursue professionally
the issues of compensation and restitution. The members also took
note of the joint statement of 24 April 2013, regarding the 100th
anniversary of the Genocide, signed by Catholicos Karekin II and
Catholicos Aram I.
4. The situation of Armenians in Syria. His Holiness Aram I described
the difficulties, presented the priority needs of the community,
and reported on the Special Fund created by the Catholicosate and
the contributions of the Dioceses to the Prelacy of Peria (Syria).
5. The economic situation in Greece and the difficulties of the
Prelacy. A member of the delegation of the Diocese reported on the
situation.
6. Antelias-Etchmiadzin Relations. The Assembly reconfirmed its
commitment to work with Etchmiadzin to safeguard the unity of the
church.
7. Relations with the government of Armenia. The Assembly affirmed
the friendly and cordial relations with the government and took note
of the Armenia's response to the achievements of the Catholicosate
of Cilicia internationally.
8. Update on the construction projects of the Catholicosate with
the support of Dioceses and individual philanthropists. The Assembly
received an updated report on the construction of the "New Cilicia"
housing project in Karabakh. The plenary then received information
on the following construction projects in Antelias: Renovation of
the Martyrs' Chapel in Antelias, construction of a new residence for
the clergy in Bikfaya, construction of a new altar and re-designing
of the surroundings of the Martyr's Monument in Bikafaya, renovation
and transformation of the historical building of Birds' Nest in Byblos
to house the Genocide museum.
From: A. Papazian