PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V. Rev. Fr. Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: cathcil@cathcil.org
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

Armenian version:

COMMON DECLERATION OF THE MEETING
OF THE DELEGETAIONS OF THE CATHOLICOSATE
OF ALL ARMENIANS AND THE CATHOLICOSATE OF CILICIA

A meeting between delegations from the Catholicosate of All Armenians and
the Catholicosate of Cilicia was held in St. Etchmiadzine on the 4th and the
5th of March. The meeting was held under the patronage of His Holiness
Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, and His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos
of Cilicia, with the aim of further developing the mission of the Armenian
Church and further strengthening internal unity. The main purpose of the
meeting was to prepare an outline for discussions around the theme “The
Imperative of the Armenian Church’s Renewal.”

Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Bishop Michael Atchabahian, Mr. Rafayel
Babaian, Mr. James Kaloustian represented the Catholicosate of All
Armenians. Archbishop Oshagan Tcholoian, Bishop Nareg Aliemezian, Mr.
Yervant Pamboukian and Mr. Arsen Tanielian represented the Catholicosate of
Cilicia.

On Friday the 4th of March, His Holiness Krekin II met with the two
delegations and clarified his expectations as well as those of His Holiness
Aram I.

The participants in the meeting prepared an outline containing nine main
points, as follows:

1.. The canonical status of the Armenian Church, ecclesiological,
administrative and canonical definition

2.. Christian and Armenian education, mission and protection of spiritual
and cultural values

3.. Liturgical Life

4.. Formation of clergy and revitalization of monastic life

5.. Inter-church and ecumenical relations

6.. Attitudes towards moderns social and moral issues

7.. Church-state and church-society structure relations

8.. The church and the Armenian people’s rights

9.. Use of modern technology

Each of these main points was divided into subcategories and general
discussions were held around each, as an initial for thorough analysis and
accordingly adoption of relevant approaches in the future.

The two delegations decided to present the outline of their discussion to
His Holiness Karekin II and to His Holiness Aram I.

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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.