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 RECEIVES THE PRIMATE OF ALEPPO
AND THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL OF THE DIOCESE

His Holiness Aram I received the Primate of Aleppo, Bishop Shahan
Sarkisian and the newly elected Executive Council of the Diocese on
July 18.The two sides discussed several issues relevant to the Diocese.

The representatives of the Diocese of Aleppo also met the Central
Executive Council of the Catholicosate. His Holiness, who presided
over the meeting, expressed his satisfaction at the future plans of
the Executive Council, seeing in them a development in the cooperation
between the Catholicosate and the Diocese.

His Holiness advised the representatives of the Diocese of Aleppo to
focus their attention on Christian education and its delivery by up to
date programs. He considered the spiritual and moral formation of the
new generation to be one of the priorities of the Armenian prelacies.

The Pontiff also highlighted the importance of Armenian education as
an important shield against the weakening of Armenian communities. His
Holiness talked about the factors strengthening the connection between
the church and people. He particularly stressed the importance of
social service.

“The church is in itself the people. If circumstances drift people away
from their church, the church initiates the move toward the people in
order to restore the parent-children relationship. Social service is
one of the tangible expressions of this honest and warm cooperation. It
constitutes the basis of the church’s mission,” said His Holiness.

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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 history and the mission 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.