PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: cathcil@cathcil.org
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

His Holiness Aram I expresses his condolences on the occasion of the death
of Pope Petros VII, Greek Orthodox patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa

Pope Petros VII, Greek Orthodox patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa and
other members of the Patriarchate, including bishops, priests and lay staff,
lost their lives last Saturday, 11 September 2004, in a helicopter crash
over the Aegean Sea while they were traveling to the Mount Athos monastery
in northern Greece. On this occasion His Holiness Aram I sent the following
condolences to the Holy Synod of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of
Alexandria, Egypt.-

13 September, 2004

To The Holy Synod

of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria

Egypt.

Dear Brothers in Christ

It is with deep sorrow and sadness that I came to learn the tragic accident
of His Holiness Petros VII Patriarch of Alexandria. I have known His
Holiness since 1970. As young priests we have been together in different
committees and meetings of the Middle East Council of Churches. Since then
we have developed a close friendship and ecumenical collaboration.

His Holiness Petros was a dynamic person committed to the service of his
church. He firmly believed in Ecumenical vision and brought an active
participation in Ecumenical witness on regional and international levels. We
will never forget his services particularly to MECC, to the cause of
Christian unity in the Middle East and to the Christian-Moslem dialogue.

On behalf of the Central Committee of the World Council of Churches, the
Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia and personally I want to convey my deepest
condolences to the Holy Synod and to the family of His Holiness.

May God accept his soul in His Eternal Kingdom

ARAM I

CATHOLICOS OF CILICIA

##

The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the Ecumenical
activities of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, The Cilician Catholicosate, the
administrative center of the church is located in Antelias, Lebanon.