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:
A MEETING BETWEEN THE CENTRAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE AND THE
REPRESENTATIVES OF DIOCESES
His Holiness Aram I convened and chaired, on March 26-27, a meeting
between representatives from the dioceses of the Catholicosate of Cilicia
and Central Executive Committee with the aim of bringing under the spotlight
certain aspects of the work of the dioceses within the general framework of
the Armenian Church, and Catholicosate of Cilicia’s mission.
Delivering the opening remarks of the fruitful working sessions stretched
over a period of two days, the Pontiff talked about a number of plans
related to the Catholicosate of Cilicia’s mission and, through its dioceses,
the broadening of the Armenian Church’s mission.
The meeting featured talks on the recent activities of the Catholicosate’s
Ecumenical, Christian Education and Youth departments. Speaking about the
work carried out in the recent period, Bishop Nareg Alemezian highlighted a
number of important factors related to the ecumenical relations of the
Catholicosate on regional and international levels.
The work of the Christian Education Department was presented by the
chairman of the department’s committee, V. Rev. Fr. Krikor Chiftjian and
director Rev. Fr. Torkom Donoyan. The presenters focused on those areas of
the department’s work that had gained new momentum recently, particularly in
the audiovisual and publishing fields.
The Youth Department director, Rev. Fr. Sahag Yemishian briefed the
attendants about the department’s projects in general, also talking about
the planned pan-Diaspora youth conference to be held in August 2008 in
Antelias.
The challenges facing the Armenian schools and Armenian education were an
important item on the agenda of the meeting. The head of the Catholicosate’s
education office, Sarkis Giragossian, talked about upcoming conferences,
planned reviews of educational programs and the reorganization of various
aspects related to this field. The Catholicos grabbed this opportunity to
praise the Armenian Affairs Department of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation
and its director Dr. Zaven Yegavian for its continued support of the
Catholicosate’s efforts in the field of Armenology and education.
An important issue taken up during the meeting was the construction of a
village named "New Cilicia" in Nagorno Karabakh, an initiative which falls
under the Catholicosate’s national mission. The project was presented as the
would-be outcome of the joint efforts of all the Catholicosate’s dioceses
with the clear separation of labor and responsibility.
The Primates then made presentations about the spiritual, religious,
educational, national and publishing work being carried out in their
respective dioceses, at the same time underlining their concerns and
difficulties. His Holiness Aram I announced that the blessing of Holy Muron
(Holy Chrism) would take place on June 1, 2008. The meeting also decided to
convene the General National Assembly in December 2007.
The Catholicos assessed the work of the dioceses for the service of the
Armenian Church and nation to be organized and positive. He called on the
attendants to ignore obstacles and overcome difficulties and challenges in
order to continue the Holy See’s sacred mission.
The delegation of each diocese- the Primate and the National Executive
Council- held individual meetings with the Pontiff to discuss special issues
pertaining to their diocese.
##
View the photo here:
*****
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the dioceses 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.
