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: nian.htm
THE PATRIARCH OF ETHIOPIA HONORS ARAM I
WITH A LUNCHEON
The Spiritual Leader of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Paulos,
honored His Holiness Aram I with a special luncheon held in the Patriarchate’s
hall on July 12. Over 1000 guests, representatives of Christian and Muslim
communities, the Primates of the Ethiopian Church, members of Parliament,
ministers and the ambassadors of several countries, as well as the chairman
of the small Armenian community, Mr. Vartkes Nalbandian, attended the
luncheon.
Speaking during the luncheon, His Holiness first praised the services of
the Ethiopian Church headed by Patriarch Paulos. He also expressed his joy
for the success of his mediation between the Coptic and Ethiopian Churches
thanks to the cooperation between the two churches’ Patriarchs and their
Holy Synods. His Holiness thanked his host for his warm welcome. At the end
of the luncheon, the Ethiopian Patriarch gave souvenirs to Catholicos Aram I
and his delegation.
A special service dedicated to the 15th anniversary of the Patriarch’s
tenure and the Armenian Pontiff’s visit was held on the square at the
entrance of the Holy Trinity Cathedral on the same day. Clergy, community
and political leaders, Ambassadors and a large crowd attended the service. A
festival with Ethiopian songs and dance was held and speeches were delivered
by the representative of the Ethiopian Church’s Synod, two secular
representatives, His Holiness Aram I and the Ethiopian Patriarch.
All the speakers congratulated the Patriarch on the 15th anniversary of
his tenure and greeted His Holiness Aram I’s reconciliatory mission. The
Ethiopian Patriarch stressed the important role the Armenian Catholicos
plays in ecumenical relations, as well as his success in bringing about
cooperation between the Coptic and Ethiopian Churches.
The two spiritual leaders, His Holiness Aram I and His Holiness Patriarch
Paulos, left for Egypt on the morning of July 14, accompanied by their
delegations.
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View the photos here:
tos/Photos12.htm
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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
the 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.