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 COMMITTEE FOR THE
COMMEMORATION OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

His Holiness Aram I received the Central Committee for the
Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide in Lebanon in his office in
Antelias on May 2.

The committee was formed on the occasion of the 90th anniversary of
the Armenian Genocide. It includes members from the three Armenian
religious sects, three parties and three charity unions. The committee
met His Holiness to thank him for his pontifical support and to listen
to his advice.

The Pontiff highly praised the committee for its unity in functioning
and commended the great public march it organized on the occasion of
the Armenian Genocide’s 91st anniversary.

“The Armenians of Lebanon established and valued themselves with the
highest will and self realization. They showed that the statements
delivered here and there both in internal and external circles about
the Armenians of Lebanon not representing the same situation today
as in the past, about the Armenians of Lebanon not being united,
etc, are not true. In fact, when more than fifty thousand Armenians
walked united on the highway from Antelias to Bourdj Hammoud, they
testified and others witnessed that the Armenians of Lebanon are
strong, organized and united now more than ever,” His Holiness said.

Speaking about the initiatives dedicated to the Armenian Genocide
in general, the Armenian Catholicos said: “I watched with pride as
the children of our nation, young or old, leaders or regular people,
intellectual or worker climbed to Dzidzernagapert as one nation to
express their respect and loyalty to our victims. I watched with pride
as the Armenians of Lebanon demanded their nation’s rights. I watched
with pride as the children of the same Armenian nation all around the
globe renewed their oath to remain loyal to the legacy of our nation’s
martyrs, practically pursuing the violated rights of their nation,”

On the Armenian efforts to pursue the nation’s rights, the
Catholicos advised that these works should be better organized and
systematic. “They should be organized and pursued with a collective
approach. Such initiatives that suit the circumstances of the current
world should be brought under the spotlight.”

His Holiness Aram I explained that these works should have three
directions: “the first, our nation: Collective memory should be
kept alive in the life of our nation and particularly our youth. The
families, churches, schools and clubs have an important role in this
respect. Second, the international community: We should always revert
to media technology to remind people that the Armenian cause remains
unsolved and to point out that the international community should take
appropriate action in this regard. Third, Turkey: It is also important
to always remind Turkey, with the effective methods of a civilized
world, that it can’t deny the truth. Turkey should acknowledge the
Genocide planned and executed by the Ottoman Turkish Empire.”

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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.