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:

THE PRESIDENT OF KARAPAGH PRAISES THE CONTRIBUTION OF THE
CATHOLICOSATE OF CILICIA IN THE STRENGTHENING OF KARAPAGH

Antelias, Lebanon – His Holiness Aram I recently donated about 100
thousand dollars for the construction of a Church in Sdepanagerd, the
capital of the Republic of Nagorno Karapagh. On this occasion, the president
of the republic, Argati Ghougassian, sent the following letter to the
Pontiff.

"His Holiness Aram I
Catholicos of the Holy See of Cilicia

On behalf of the people of Nagorno Karapagh and myself I would like to
express warm words of gratitude to the Catholicosate of Cilicia and to
yourself for your contribution to the construction of a church in the
capital of Karapagh, Sdepanagerd.

Your initiative, an act which is appealing to God and profitable for the
nation, is an invaluable contribution to guaranteeing the spiritual security
of the people of Karapagh. The church to be constructed will become a
spiritual and tangible witness and symbol of the unity of the three sectors
of the Armenian nation: Armenia, the Diaspora and Karapagh.

Grabbing this opportunity, I would like to reaffirm the readiness of the
people of Karapagh to welcome you in this small corner of our historic
homeland.

With respect and warm greetings,

Arkati Ghougassian"

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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.