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PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Tel: (+961- 4) 410001, 410003
Fax: (+961- 4) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web: www.armenianorthodoxchurch.org
PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon
The Catholicosate of Cilicia Will Always Be at the Forefront of
Demanding the Restoration of Our People's Rights and Restitution of
Their Properties
His Holiness Aram I
Antelias - 1 January 2014. At the end of the Holy Liturgy, celebrating
the New Year at St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral, the clergy and
laity went to the residence of Catholicos Aram I to hear his message and
receive his blessings.
In his message, the Catholicos reminded the gathering that the New Year
and the Feast of the Nativity of Jesus is a message of transformation
and renewal through faith, hope and determination. He asked Armenians
everywhere, whether individuals or communities with their organizations,
to renew themselves by turning to Jesus so that they might become
strengthened as righteous and responsible stewards of God's creation.
His Holiness then emphasized that Armenians must remain attached to
their roots, stating that affirmation of identity should go hand in hand
with transformation and renewal.
In the second part of the message His Holiness referred to 2015 as the
100th anniversary commemoration of the Armenian Genocide. He invited
everyone to advocate for and work towards the restitution of the
cultural artefacts and properties belonging to the Church and the
people, which were seized by Turkey during the Genocide of over a
million martyrs.
His Holiness concluded the message by reaffirming the commitment of the
Catholicosate of Cilicia to remain at the forefront of demanding from
Turkey the restitution of all the belongings and properties of
Armenians.
Do Not Be Afraid, God Is with Us
through the Birth of His Only Begotten Son in Bethlehem
Antelias - 6 January 2015. On Tuesday on all continents Armenians
celebrated Christmas and His Holiness Aram I celebrated the Holy Liturgy
at St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral in Antelias.
This year again political personalities and officials joined the
community for the Christmas liturgy.
His Holiness began his sermon by reminding the people that God had
expressed his desire to show humanity the way to faith, love and hope by
sending His only begotten Son (John 3:16). Jesus assured the sick, the
sinners and the oppressed of God's love through his teaching, and
repeatedly said, `Do not be afraid, just believe' (Mark 5:36). The
Evangelists and Apostles also stated, `If God is for us, who can be
against us?' (Romans 8:31).
His Holiness then reminded the faithful that irrespective of difficult
historical circumstances, the Church has always told the people to
listen to the Gospel, to heed God's promise and to defy hopelessness.
He then acknowledged the current economic problems in Armenia, the
difficult political situation in Karabagh and the sufferings of
Armenians in Syria and encouraged them to remain strong in their faith
and firm in their hope because `God was with us.'
The Catholicos described 2015 as a special year with a special meaning.
One hundred years ago, he said, `Ottoman Turkey organized the Genocide
to annihilate Armenians. Current Turkey is the continuation of the
Ottoman Turkish state, which continues to deny the Genocide. Armenians
have no enemies, but they have a just cause. Modern Turkey should take
responsibility and accept the crimes committed by its predecessors.
According to International Law, genocide is a crime against humanity.
Turkey, through its negationist policy cannot ignore the Genocide, the
crime committed against our people. For 100 years, we remembered,
reminded and demanded justice. Today, with renewed faith we say that we
shall continue demanding justice.'
His Holiness concluded his sermon by addressing the situation in the
Middle East; he said, `Bethlehem is located in Palestine. The roots of
Christianity are in the Middle East. Irrespective of all sufferings,
Christians are determined to remain in the region. We and our sister
Christian communities are suffering in Iraq and Syria but our people
will remain in their ancestral homes in the Arab countries. Referring to
the situation in Lebanon, he said that he is thankful that Lebanese
leaders are determined both to avoid the conflict in the region and to
maintain the internal unity of the country, but added that not having an
elected President of the Republic works against those goals; he called
upon all parties to assume their responsibilities and elect a new
president.
At the end, His Holiness Aram I expressed his good wishes to the
President of Armenia, H.E. Serge Sarkissian, His Holiness Karekin II
Patriarch of All Armenians, the Patriarchs of Jerusalem and
Constantinople and all Armenian everywhere.
After the Liturgy, Catholicos Aram I met with the faithful in the Main
Hall of his residence received their good wishes and blessed them.
# #
http://armenianorthodoxchurch.org/gallery-2
Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
PO Box : 70 317 Antelias - LEBANON
Tel: (+961-4) 410 001 / 3
Fax: (+961-4) 419724
E-mail: [email protected]
From: A. Papazian
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Tel: (+961- 4) 410001, 410003
Fax: (+961- 4) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web: www.armenianorthodoxchurch.org
PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon
The Catholicosate of Cilicia Will Always Be at the Forefront of
Demanding the Restoration of Our People's Rights and Restitution of
Their Properties
His Holiness Aram I
Antelias - 1 January 2014. At the end of the Holy Liturgy, celebrating
the New Year at St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral, the clergy and
laity went to the residence of Catholicos Aram I to hear his message and
receive his blessings.
In his message, the Catholicos reminded the gathering that the New Year
and the Feast of the Nativity of Jesus is a message of transformation
and renewal through faith, hope and determination. He asked Armenians
everywhere, whether individuals or communities with their organizations,
to renew themselves by turning to Jesus so that they might become
strengthened as righteous and responsible stewards of God's creation.
His Holiness then emphasized that Armenians must remain attached to
their roots, stating that affirmation of identity should go hand in hand
with transformation and renewal.
In the second part of the message His Holiness referred to 2015 as the
100th anniversary commemoration of the Armenian Genocide. He invited
everyone to advocate for and work towards the restitution of the
cultural artefacts and properties belonging to the Church and the
people, which were seized by Turkey during the Genocide of over a
million martyrs.
His Holiness concluded the message by reaffirming the commitment of the
Catholicosate of Cilicia to remain at the forefront of demanding from
Turkey the restitution of all the belongings and properties of
Armenians.
Do Not Be Afraid, God Is with Us
through the Birth of His Only Begotten Son in Bethlehem
Antelias - 6 January 2015. On Tuesday on all continents Armenians
celebrated Christmas and His Holiness Aram I celebrated the Holy Liturgy
at St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral in Antelias.
This year again political personalities and officials joined the
community for the Christmas liturgy.
His Holiness began his sermon by reminding the people that God had
expressed his desire to show humanity the way to faith, love and hope by
sending His only begotten Son (John 3:16). Jesus assured the sick, the
sinners and the oppressed of God's love through his teaching, and
repeatedly said, `Do not be afraid, just believe' (Mark 5:36). The
Evangelists and Apostles also stated, `If God is for us, who can be
against us?' (Romans 8:31).
His Holiness then reminded the faithful that irrespective of difficult
historical circumstances, the Church has always told the people to
listen to the Gospel, to heed God's promise and to defy hopelessness.
He then acknowledged the current economic problems in Armenia, the
difficult political situation in Karabagh and the sufferings of
Armenians in Syria and encouraged them to remain strong in their faith
and firm in their hope because `God was with us.'
The Catholicos described 2015 as a special year with a special meaning.
One hundred years ago, he said, `Ottoman Turkey organized the Genocide
to annihilate Armenians. Current Turkey is the continuation of the
Ottoman Turkish state, which continues to deny the Genocide. Armenians
have no enemies, but they have a just cause. Modern Turkey should take
responsibility and accept the crimes committed by its predecessors.
According to International Law, genocide is a crime against humanity.
Turkey, through its negationist policy cannot ignore the Genocide, the
crime committed against our people. For 100 years, we remembered,
reminded and demanded justice. Today, with renewed faith we say that we
shall continue demanding justice.'
His Holiness concluded his sermon by addressing the situation in the
Middle East; he said, `Bethlehem is located in Palestine. The roots of
Christianity are in the Middle East. Irrespective of all sufferings,
Christians are determined to remain in the region. We and our sister
Christian communities are suffering in Iraq and Syria but our people
will remain in their ancestral homes in the Arab countries. Referring to
the situation in Lebanon, he said that he is thankful that Lebanese
leaders are determined both to avoid the conflict in the region and to
maintain the internal unity of the country, but added that not having an
elected President of the Republic works against those goals; he called
upon all parties to assume their responsibilities and elect a new
president.
At the end, His Holiness Aram I expressed his good wishes to the
President of Armenia, H.E. Serge Sarkissian, His Holiness Karekin II
Patriarch of All Armenians, the Patriarchs of Jerusalem and
Constantinople and all Armenian everywhere.
After the Liturgy, Catholicos Aram I met with the faithful in the Main
Hall of his residence received their good wishes and blessed them.
# #
http://armenianorthodoxchurch.org/gallery-2
Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
PO Box : 70 317 Antelias - LEBANON
Tel: (+961-4) 410 001 / 3
Fax: (+961-4) 419724
E-mail: [email protected]
From: A. Papazian