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:
HIS HOLINESS MEETS WITH THE PRESIDENT OF GREECE
His Holiness Aram I had an official meeting with the president of Greece,
Carolos Papoulialis on April 18. Bishop Khoren Doghramdjian, the prelate of
the Armenian Prelacy of Greece, representatives from the prelacy and Rev.
Housig Mardirossian accompanied His Holiness.
During the forty minutes long meeting His Holiness congratulated the
president for his election nearly two months ago and conveyed to him the
greetings of the president of Lebanon, Gen. Emile Lahoud. His Holiness also
conveyed his approach and viewpoint regarding Lebanon’s current situation
and future perspectives.
The president, who he is closely acquainted with Lebanon, expressed his
satisfaction for the information and analysis presented by His Holiness. He
highlighted the role of Lebanon as a bridge between the Arab World and
Europe and underlined the friendship between Lebanon and Greece.
The Catholicos informed the president about the Catholicosate of Cilicia,
its structure and mission. Responding to the president’s request, Aram I
also spoke about the Armenians of Iran and Lebanon. Papoulialis expressed
his fascination with the degree of organization of the Armenians communities
worldwide and their active participation in the affairs of their home
countries.
His Holiness also talked about the Armenian community of Greece and
presented the primate of the Prelacy of Greece and its representatives to
the president. Papoulialis praised the Armenians of Greece and their
positive role in the country, especially in the cultural and economical
spheres.
His Holiness and the president also spoke about the Armenian Genocide.
Pointing out that the Armenians in Armenia and throughout the Diaspora will
soon commemorate the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, His Holiness
reminded the president that the Armenians and Greeks have had historical
ties and today fight for the same cause, a cause for justice and rights. The
president stressed the importance of cooperation between the two nations for
the preservation of human rights.
Aram I and Papoulialis also discussed the important role of the church in
social life and emphasized the importance of serving the people.
The president had delivered the opening remarks at the inter-parliamentary
conference of Orthodox Churches and His Holiness had delivered the first
lecture.
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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.