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:
HIS HOLINESS ARAM I IN DETROIT
"Not only we should build Church, we must be built by the Church, we must
become Church. The Church is not an organization, it is a community of faith
hope and love" said His Holiness Aram I in his pontifical message to the
people at Saint Sarkis Armenian Church in Detroit, Michigan.
His Holiness is in Detroit for a very brief visit on his way to Indiana and
Minnesota where he is invited to deliver lectures at Saint Johns, Notre Dame
and Indiana Universities.
Upon his arrival in Detroit, Aram I was greeted by Archbishop Oshagan
Choloyan; Prelate of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Eastern USA, Archbishop
Moushegh Mardirossian; Prelate of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Western
region.
On Friday evening, December 1, 2006, after a brief service at Saint Sarkis
Church, Archbishop Oshagan warmly welcomed His Holiness and emphasized the
pastoral importance of his encounter with the Armenian community.
After explaining the purpose of his visit to the USA, His Holiness focused
his message on the meaning of the Church and of the vital importance of
participating in the life of the Church. "As a community of faith, love and
hope, the Church must become a living reality at the heart of our nation. In
fact, from the very inception of the Armenian Church, our people have
identified themselves with the Church. That is why being Armenian has meant
being Christian and the Church has embraced the totality of our nation in
all aspects of its life. We must look at our Church with this understanding;
we must bring an active and responsible participation in the life and
mission of our Church. This is the way of being Christian for the Armenians.
I can not understand a Christian way of life outside the Church. The Church
for us is the house of God which has also become the house of our people. We
must therefore keep this house strong and vivid. Since this is the source of
our spirituality and the values which were given to the world through the
incarnation of Jesus Christ."
After the message of His Holiness, a reception was organized in the main
hall of the church.
This was a wonderful occasion for His Holiness to meet the members of the
Armenian community of Detroit.
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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.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress