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:
IMPO RTANT MEETINGS ARE HELD IN ANTELIAS
During the last few days His Holiness Aram I held important meetings in the
Antelias headquarters of the Catholicosate of Cilicia in light of the recent
political developments in Lebanon.
His Holiness received Gerges Saleh, the General Secretary of the Middle East
Council of Churches (MECC), who wanted the Pontiff’s views on the
distribution of humanitarian aid to the refugees from South Lebanon.
The Catholicos advised the general secretary about the importance of
organised committee work through social workers on the local level. He also
outlined the importance of accountability to those charity organisations
that are providing humanitarian aid to Lebanon.
His Holiness called on churches to contribute to the humanitarian aid
efforts through their representatives as a tangible expression of the church
‘s humanitarian mission.
"This is the stage of immediate aid. The next stage should be carefully
studied so that the physical and psychological consequences of the war can
be remedied," he said.
Dr. Sam Kobia, the General Secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC)
and a number ecumenical committees and spiritual leaders of several churches
contacted the Armenian Catholicos by email, phone and faxes to express their
support in these times of war.
Another important meeting the Catholicos held was with the head of the
Christian-Muslim Committee of Lebanon, Mr. Hares Shehab. The representative
of the Armenian community in that committee, Dr. Jean Salmanian was also
present at the meeting.
Shehab handed to His Holiness the invitation of Maronite Patriarch Mar
Nasrallah Sfeir to a meeting of Lebanese spiritual leaders to be held within
the next 24 hours.
His Holiness Aram I stressed the importance of strengthening the internal
unity of Lebanon: "When one of Lebanon’s communities is hurt, Lebanon as a
whole is hurt. When the lives of people belonging to a certain community are
threatened, the lives of all the Lebanese are threatened. We should,
therefore, be united in the conflict so we can overcome the threat."
The dioceses of the Catholicosate of Cilicia are trying, within their
capabilities, to bring their contribution to the humanitarian aid efforts to
the refugees of South Lebanon.
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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 Ecumenical
activities 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.