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:
THE CATHOLICOSATE OF CILICIA PARTICIPATES IN THE CONFERENCE ON WORLD
MISSION AND EVANGELISM (CWME) OF THE WORLD COUNCIL OF CHURCHES
The Conference on World Mission and Evangelism of the World Council
of Churches (WCC) was held in Athens on May 9-16. The theme of the
conference was “Come Holy Spirit, heal and reconcile. We are called
by Jesus to become reconciling and healing communities.”
Around 600 people, including delegates from WCC member churches,
representatives of Catholic and Benedictine churches, observers,
journalists and youth participated in the conference.
Bishop Nareg Alemezian, ecumenical officer, Bishop Khoren
Doghramdjian, prelate of the Diocese of Greece, Rev. Magar Ashkarian,
representing the Tesaghonige Armenians, Mrs. Eva Berberian and
Mrs. Haigouhi Yaghdjian represented the Catholicosate of Cilicia
at the Conference. Paula Devedjian participated on behalf of the
Catholicosate of all Armenians.
The conference started on May 10, with the opening remarks of
Archbishop Khrisdodoulos, spiritual leader of the Greek Orthodox
Church and Dr. Sam Kobia, the general secretary of WCC.
Bishops Nareg and Khoren conveyed His Holiness Aram I’s greetings
to Archbishop Khrisdodoulos, who had met with the Catholicos in two
weeks earlier in Greece.
The representatives of the Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox Churches held
a meeting on May 11 and discussed their participation the conference.
Archbishop Genadios from the Ecumenical Patriarchate and Bishop Nareg
chaired the meeting.
The agenda of the conference on May 12 was dedicated to the 10th
anniversary of WCC’s initiative to overcome violence. During these
discussions, the delegation of the Catholicosate of Cilicia raised
the issue of the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.
The main theme of discussion on May 14 was the concept of
reconciliation. The participants talked about the presence of
Christianity and its role in Jerusalem. The Armenian participants
outlined the important role of the Armenian Patriarchy of Jerusalem
as well the Armenian community of Jerusalem in this field.
The participants in the meeting attended holy mass in several churches
in Athens on May 15. The St. Gregory the Illuminator and St. Garabed
Armenian churches also welcomed a group of believers.
The conference mainly brought the following issues to attention:
1.. The Holy Spirit and the role of churches in spreading the Gospel
2.. Cooperation between churches in their mission to present Jesus
Christ to the world.
3.. The healing and reconciling effect of Jesus Christ through
churches.
4.. The mission of the church in overcoming the current world’s
destroying forces.
5.. The multifaceted challenges of globalization and the response of
churches as healing and reconciling bridges.
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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.