Press Release
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Father 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:
" ;WE WILL SURVIVE AND STRUGGLE THROUGH
THE ARMENIAN SCHOOL AND OUR CULTURE"
SAYS HIS HOLINESS DURING A SERMON IN ANTELIAS
His Holiness Aram I delivered a Pontifical Sermon in the St. Gregory the
Illuminator Cathedral in Antelias on November 12, focusing on three main
areas: the Armenian school, the Armenian book and inter-religious dialogue
in light of the ongoing international ecumenical conference in Antelias.
Speaking from the Cathedral’s altar, the Catholicos first and foremost
stressed the importance of the Armenian school as the basis of the Armenian
nation’s struggle for survival.
"To agonize over the Armenian school, means to struggle for our survival.
God Help those for whom the Armenian school is not is a concern, a daily
agony and a holy commitment. What we are and what we will yet be as a nation
we owe to the Armenian school," said His Holiness.
The Armenian spiritual leader then spoke about the grand donation of 4.5
million dollars by philanthropist Kirk Kirkorian’s "Lincy" foundation to the
Armenian schools of Lebanon. He highly commended the donation made to the
most important community in the Diaspora and the heart of preserving
Armenian identity. He also praised the Vice Chairman of the foundation,
Harut Sassounian, a former Lebanese-Armenian, who came to Lebanon to
personally deliver the donation to the various schools.
On the occasion of the 28th Armenian Book Fair in Antelias, His Holiness
talked about the preservation and flourishing of Armenian culture in the
second part of his Pontifical message. Referring to the tens of new Armenian
publications, he said they give a new and fresh breath to the history of
Armenian culture.
The Catholicos praised Armenian book writers and publishers alike,
highlighting particularly the role of the Gulbenkian Foundation and its
director of the Armenian Department, Dr. Zaven Yegavian, whose cooperation
with the Catholicosate of Cilicia has resulted in the publication of many
books by Antelias. Finally, he commended those who are nurtured by Armenian
books, because their connectedness to the Armenian book will keep them
attached to the family of the Armenian nation, church and fatherland.
In the third and final part of his sermon, the Pontiff talked about the
international ecumenical conference to be launched in Antelias that same
afternoon. About 60 people from various religions from the Middle East and
Asia will participate in this conference, highlighting the areas of
cooperation between religions and the possibilities of overcoming the
challenges to humanity together.
"The full existence of religions in today’s world is guaranteed by dialogue
and united struggle. All religions exist for humankind and should therefore
fight for its spiritual, intellectual and physical safety. That struggle
becomes more effective if all religions, with their moral values as shared
traits, fight together against evil and its driving force of world
destruction." He said.
His Holiness then emphasized that cooperation rather than comparison between
religions is the path to adopt: "Emphasizing our differences drifts us
further away from finding the truth. We should avoid contradictions and
search for the truth through the similarities found in religions. And the
source of truth is God himself. On the way to recognizing God, justice,
peace and love between nations are the most rightful paths leading to God."
After the Holy Mass, the Catholicos headed a procession of Cilician
Brotherhood members and Seminary students outside where the opening of the
28th Armenian Book Fair was held.
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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.