FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
SEN. DIANNE FEINSTEIN
Contact: Howard Gantman
Thursday, September 29, 2005
or Scott Gerber 202/224-9629

Statement by Senator Feinstein on the Upcoming Visit of Aram I

Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) today released
the following statement on the upcoming Pontifical visit of His Holiness
Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia.

“I am pleased to join the Armenian American community in welcoming the
upcoming Pontifical visit of His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the
Great House of Cilicia. The Pontiff will be visiting the State of
California this October at the invitation of His Eminence, Archbishop
Moushegh Mardirossian of the Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic
Church of America.

His Holiness is one of the most prominent Christian leaders in the
Middle East and a spiritual leader for hundreds of thousands of
Armenians around the world. The Pontiff presently serves as the
Moderator for the World Council of Churches which is comprised of more
than 340 churches from different cultures and countries around the world
representing over 400 million Christians. Currently serving his second
term, His Holiness is the first Orthodox and the youngest person to be
elevated to Moderator.

The theme of the Pontiff’s visit is “Towards the Light of Knowledge.”
This theme reflects the Pontiff’s faith that only with greater education
and dialogue can the world’s conflicts be addressed properly.

I would like to take this opportunity to not only thank The Pontiff for
his time and worthy endeavors in California, but also thank the sizable
Armenian community which has been actively contributing to the
California culture and economy since 1878. California cities of Los
Angeles and Glendale are home to the second and third largest
populations of Armenians outside of Armenia and are important members of
their communities serving as business leaders and city council members.”

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress