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: [email protected]
Web:
PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon
Armenian version:
Watch the recorded video here:
mservice.wmv
REQUIEM SERVICE IN ANTELIAS FOR THE MEMORY
OF THE ARMAVIA AIRPLANE CRASH VICTIMS
His Holiness Aram I presided over a special requiem service in the Antelias
headquarters of the Catholicosate of Cilicia on May 7 in memory of the 113
innocent victims of the Armenian “Airbus-320” airplane crash recently. The
airplane that belonged to the Armenian Armavia Airlines crashed into the
black Sea as it headed from Yerevan to Sochi in the early morning hours of
May 3.
His Holiness delivered a sermon before the service, speaking about the sad
incident. Stressing the concept of the wholeness of a nation, the Pontiff
presented the tragedy as a pain for the entire Armenian nation.
“Not only the relatives of the victims felt the pain, not only Armenia felt
the pain, but we, as a nation, mourned the sad incident. We’re a small
nation and therefore our pain is double. Christ came to heal our wounds. He
came to remind us that this earthly life is not the end of our lives,” he
said.
“As we conduct requiem in the Catholicosate of Cilicia on this sad occasion
today, we express our condolences on behalf of the Cilician Brotherhood, the
central committee of this Holy See, its Dioceses around the globe and
believers to the president of the Republic of Armenia H.E. Robert
Kotcharian, Catholicos of All Armenians His Holiness Karekin II and the
relatives of the victims. We pray to God to strengthen our nation in its
internal life and unity, to brighten and develop our motherland and church,”
added the Catholicos.
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View photo here: tm
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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.