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: cathcil@cathcil.org
Web:
PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon
Armenian version:
HIS HOLINESS RECEIVES A POPULAR WELCOME IN NOR KUIGH
The Armenian community of Aleppo and the local Arab residents witnessed the
love and respect for the Armenian nation towards its Spiritual Leader during
a popular welcome of His Holiness Aram I in Nor Kuigh on May 19.
The streets of this Armenian neighborhood in Aleppo were decorated with
flags and pictures and its inhabitants, both elderly and young, men and
women, took to the streets to welcome the Pontiff, who walked towards the
Saint Gregory Church through the masses with a procession while flowers and
rice were being thrown from the balconies as a sign of welcome.
Primate Bishop Shahan Sarkissian welcomed His Holiness in Aleppo and the
church. Given the period of the visit that falls between Christ’s Assumption
into heaven and Pentecost, the Bishop asked the Armenian Spiritual leader to
spread the Holy Spirit among the children of his nation. "You are anointed
by the Holy Spirit as Armenian Pontiff and your being here today is proof of
mutual love and trust between yourself and our nation," he said.
In his sermon, the Catholicos called on believers to reevaluate the three
main principles of Christian life: faith, hope and love. "All these are not
mere emotional states. Rather, as the Holy Bible says, they should be
tangibly expressed through good works." Pointing out that faith, hope and
love are above all the pillars of the Church’s life, His Holiness talked
about the attributes that form a believer’s valor: hope strengthened through
love and the epitome of both, love.
On this occasion, His Holiness also highlighted the role of the
Syrian-Armenian community and its contribution to the life of the Antelias
Seminary. In this respect he mentioned the several Primates of the dioceses
in Syria, who have originally been members of the Syrian Armenian community.
He specifically remembered the late Catholicos Zareh I, who following an
active role as the Primate of the Diocese of Aleppo, climbed up to the
Armenian Church’s highest position. The Catholicos also praised the people’s
attachment to its Mother Church, the Seminary in Antelias and community
life.
The faithful then approached His Holiness in endless queues to kiss his
right hand and receive his blessings.
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View the photo 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 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.