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 ARAM I MEETS WITH MEMBERS OF THE ST. EGIDIO BROTHERHOOD

His Holiness Aram I met with around 30 members of the St. Egidio
secular brotherhood which functions under the patronage of the
Roman Catholic Church. His Holiness briefed the visitors about the
birthplace of Christianity, the Middle East and the long history of
Christian-Muslim coexistence.

“The Christian Muslim dialogue has its toots in the Middle East, where
these two monotheistic religions have witnessed a dialogue unfolding
over the centuries. Lebanon is in this sense a mosaic of religions
and this gives it a unique character and identity,” said His Holiness.

Aram I pointed that while international conferences and seminars
about dialogue can sometimes be fake, the Christian-Muslim dialogue in
Lebanon is not based on conference agendas. “Rather, it is everywhere:
in people’s homes, shops, on the streets, in other words, in everyday
life.”

The members of the Brotherhood attended the Holy Mass conducted in
the Chapel of St. Asdvadzadzine. They also visited the St. Gregory
the Illuminator Cathedral and the Martyrs’ Chapel in Antelias.

The St. Egidio Brotherhood often organizes international conferences
with the aim of developing a dialogue between religions. His Holiness
Aram I has frequently been invited to attend these conferences.

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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.