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:

THE MODERATOR AND GENERAL SECRETARY OF THE
WORLD COUNCIL OF CHURCHES VISIT ANTELIAS

The General Secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC), Dr. Sam Kobia,
and its newly elected Moderator, Rev. Dr. Walter Altmann, arrived in
Antelias on December 16.

The two WCC senior officials decided to come to Antelias to personally thank
the Armenian Pontiff for his great contribution to WCC as its Moderator
during the last 15 years.

The WCC Moderator and General Secretary had a private meeting with the
Catholicos in his office in Antelias. The two officials and the Catholicos
then met with the Catholicosate of Cilicia’s Ecumenical Committee, which
includes Archbishop Sebouh Sarkissian (Primate of the Diocese of Tehran),
Bishop Kegham Khatcherian (Primate of the Diocese of Lebanon), Bishop Nareg
Alemezian (Ecumenical Officer), V. Rev. Fr. Krikor Chiftjian (Communications
Officer), Mrs. Teni Piri-Simonian (Programme Executive General Secretariat
Church & Ecumenical Relations and the deputy chairwoman of the Catholicosate
Ecumenical Committee), Dr. Nora Bayrakdarian-Kabakian (Political Science
professor in Lebanese universities and the Committee’s chairwoman) and Dr.
Jean Salmanian (professor of Arabic Literature in Lebanese universities).
Also present were Mrs. Seta Khedeshian (MECC Director of Life and Service
Programme), and Ms. Carla Khijoyan (member of the Youth Department Committee
of the Catholicosate).

The Committee members and the WCC representatives discussed the recent
developments in ecumenical relations both on regional and international
levels. The Council’s Moderator and General Secretary welcomed the
Catholicosate of Cilicia’s continued involvement in ecumenical work, an
important aspects of the Holy See’s mission during the last few decades.
They expressed their gratitude to His Holiness Aram I’s dedicated service to
the WCC and the ecumenical movement at large, conveying their hope for
continued cooperation and stressing their confidence in His Holiness’ strong
commitment to the ecumenical movement.

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View the photos here:
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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.