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 DELIVERS A SERMON IN SOURP NESHAN
ON THE OCCASION OF MID LENT
Taking up the invitation of Primate Bishop Kegham Khatcherian and the
Armenian National Authorities, His Holiness Aram I attended a Mid Lent
Vespers in the Sourp Neshan Mother Church in Beirut on March 22. Members of
the Cilician Brotherhood, Seminary students, students from Armenian schools
and a large number of believers attended the service.
The Cilician Brotherhood members participated in the service along with His
Holiness Aram I, whereas Seminary students sang religious hymns. Since the
relocation of the Cilician See to Antelias, it has become a tradition for
the Catholicos to visit the Mother Church on the occasion of Mid Lent and
deliver a sermon to believers.
At the end of the service, Bishop Khatcherian welcomed His Holiness’ visit
to the Mother Church on behalf of the Armenian National Authorities and
Armenian believers.
During his sermon, His Holiness Aram I spoke about sin and the circumstances
of its existence in people’s lives. His Holiness spoke about three aspects
of the sin, a word repeatedly mentioned in Church services, rituals and
prayers.
I. Sin is the absence of God from people’s lives. “Just as mistakes happen
in a house when the father is absent, we commit sins and mistakes when God,
the Father of all of us, becomes absent from our lives. The presence of the
father keeps the family healthy, secure and happy,” said His Holiness.
II. Sin is the lack of realization by people for their God-given
responsibility. “According to the Bible, God created man and woman and gave
them a responsibility. When we feel an obligation towards the simplest of
duties expected of us, how much more obligation should we feel for the
duties given to us by God,” His Holiness said.
“That duty is nothing but cooperating with God. Creating man in his image,
God made man his partner, his ambassador, so man would continue his work on
earth. God expects man not only to continue the heavenly values, but also
and particularly to spread them. When we don’t assume responsibility for the
duty given to us, sin crawls into our lives,” he said.
III. Sin means the absence of accountability. “Having a responsibility means
being ready for accountability. A man who takes up a task should be ready to
account for his work. This is a natural phenomenon. God, who has given us a
task, demands explanations from us. It is true that we will give account on
the Day of Judgment, but throughout the course of our lives God demands
explanations from us on various occasions and through various means,” His
Holiness said.
“Where there is no accountability, sin enters. As weak beings, we are always
subject to committing sins. Often we will not have the bravery to be
accountable. Let nobody say that he is a savior. We will get lost, we will
crumble, but envious are those who accept their mistakes. God help the man
who neither accepts his mistakes nor carries out his duties,” His Holiness
concluded.
Everybody then collectively sang “Der Voghormia” and “Hair Mer.”
The Board of the Sourp Neshan Mother Church and the women’s committee then
honored the guests by a banquet organized in honor of His Holiness Aram I in
the Prelacy.
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View photos here:
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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
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.