HIS HOLINESS ARAM I MET WITH SPIRITUAL LEADERS OF THE ARMENIAN CATHOLIC AND EVANGELICAL CHURCHES
ArmRadio.am
02.11.2006 16:00
His Holiness Aram I met with the spiritual leaders of the Armenian
Catholic and Evangelical Churches in two separate meetings on
October 30. V. Rev. Fr. Norayr Ashekian, V. Rev. Fr. Krikor Chiftjian
and Mr. Tsolag Tutelian from the Central Executive Council of the
Catholicosate accompanied His Holiness, Office of Communication of
the Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia informs.
The meeting with Patriarch Nerses Bedros Tarmouni XIX was held in
the presence of several Armenian Catholic Bishops and priests. His
Holiness then met Rev. Meguerditch Karageozian, President of Armenian
Evangelical Churches in the Near East. The President of Haigazian
University, Rev. Dr. Paul Haidostian as well as several Evangelical
pastors and community leaders also attended.
The main focus of the talks was the relationship between Armenia
and the Diaspora particularly in light of the Third Armenia-Diaspora
conference held this summer in Yerevan. The three spiritual leaders
also discussed the importance of strengthening the Diaspora and
reviving Armenian schools in particular.
They reiterated the crucial importance of preserving the internal
unity of the Armenian community of Lebanon.
On these and other issues, all three highlighted the role of close
cooperation between the Armenian Orthodox, Catholic and Evangelical
Churches and the adoption of united stands towards issues of national
concern.
Following these two meetings, His Holiness made the following
statement: "The main purpose of our meetings was the reinforcement
of our internal national unity. There might be difference in
our approaches and evaluations, but we consider that a natural
phenomenon in the life of any nation. However, it is essential that
our communities, our nation become united in basic issues affecting
our life. Today more than ever, it is imperative that we gather around
pan-national projects and visions."
"The Armenian community of Lebanon should concretely prove that it
has a unique role and place in the life of our nation in general
and the Diaspora in particular. Therefore, the energizing of our
institutions and in this context the revival of the Armenian school,
the backbone of the Armenian community of Lebanon, should become
a priority for all of us. The stronger an Armenian school becomes,
the stronger an Armenian community becomes."
"The Catholicosate of Cilicia and We personally in cooperation with
the " Gulbenkian", "Lincy" and "Khatchig Babikian" Foundations,
are striving to keep the Armenian school strong in its educational
mission. Financial assistance alone, however, is not enough. It is
our expectation that Armenian parents send their children to Armenian
schools. An Armenian school becomes truly an Armenian School when it is
filled with Armenian students; when it conveys the Armenian language,
religion and history as a spirit, faith and commitment to Armenian
students, making them the pillar of Christian Armenian formation.
Therefore, Christian education and Armenian education for us, are
closely interconnected; they are two dimensions of one process",
said His Holiness Aram I.
The Pontiff concluded by calling on the Lebanese Armenian Members
of Par liament, parties and community leaders to work together for
safeguarding the rights of the Lebanese Armenian community and for
preserving the integrity and independence of Lebanon.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
