"STRENGTHENING OF BELIEF, PROSPERITY OF COMMUNITY LIFE AND STRENGTHENING OF UNITY," ARAM I CATHOLICOS COMMANDS IN ALEPPO

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
May 22 2007

ANTELIAS, MAY 22, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Aram I Catholicos of
the Great House of Cilicia left on May 18 for Syria with a patriarchal
visit.

Primate of the Berio Diocese Bishop Shahan Sargsian, members of the
National Power religious and political assemblies, representatives of
Armenian organizations and unions of Syria came to meet His Holiness
on the border of Lebanon and Syria. Then Aram I Catholicos left
for the first place of the patriarchal visit, the city of Aleppo,
accompanied by a column of cars.

Being met by the police column and passing through the disciplined
rows of thousands of Armenian sons, academy students and school
pupils, Scouts, the procession of His Holiness Patriarch walked to
the Karasnits Mankants church, enjoying people’s fervent reception,
in the way of rain of flowers and grains pouring from windows.

After sacrifice of sheep at the church entrance, His Holiness Patriarch
entered the centuries-old church which was already full of beleiving
people.

Aram I Catholicos welcame with the patriarchal commandment the present
people of many thousands, then on behalf of the Armenians of Syria
and the whole Armenian people, he expressed gratitude to the state of
Syria and the people of Syria who "took care of the Armenian people’s
survivors after the genocide."

Then, His Holiness summed up his commandment on the following three
points: strengthening of belief, prosperity of community life and
strengthening of unity.

His Holiness Patriarch presided at the primacy hall the National Power
assembly at which members of the Provincial, Religious and Political
Assemblies and other bodies of the National Power were present.

Aram I Catholicos emphasized that it is necessary to attach special
importance to programs of Christian education, bringing up according
to Armenian traditions and local and regional works of national
demanding struggle.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress