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: nian.htm

RENOVATIONS IN THE CATHOLICOSATE AND
THE BIKFAYA MONASTERY

A vast renovation initiative was launched during the summer period in the
Catholicosate of Cilicia in Antelias and the Monastery in Bikfaya. The
Catholicosate’s Property Committee and the Architecture Council directly
oversaw the renovation works.

Since 1995, the Catholicosate in Antelias has been under reconstruction
under the auspices of Catholicos Aram I and by the generous donations of
several Armenian philanthropists. During the years that passed, several of
the Catholicosate’s buildings and surrounding walls, which bore the marks of
the war, were completely renovated adding to the Holy See’s grandeur and
beauty.

More recently, two renovation works were completed; one of them in the Saint
Mary’s Monastery in Bikfaya, the other in the Catholicosate in Antelias.

The Saint Mary’s Chapel, constructed in 1952 on a small hill at the entrance
of Bikfaya, was completely renovated and covered with a brick roof. The
chapel was built by the financial support of Yervant and Alice Demirdjian
during the term of the late Catholicos Karekin I Hovsepiants. The Armenian
Monastery at the entrance of Bikfaya has, as local residents themselves
find, a grand structure, which was further beautified after this
reconstruction. The sons of the late philanthropist Yervant Demirdjian-
Sarkis, Avedis and Hagop- paid all the expenses of the project with the same
spirit of donation that characterized their parents.

Also in Antelias, the exterior of the Saint Gregory the Illuminator
Cathedral, specially its domes, are currently under reconstruction. The full
renovation of the Veharan and the construction of new sections in it have
already been announced by the media. Syrian-Armenian philanthropists Mr. and
Mrs. Gabriel Chemberdjian are financing the works. The construction of a new
section for priests by the financial contribution of the Vartanian brothers
from Der-Zor was also announced by the media.

It is worth mentioning that the Armenian Department of the Calouste
Gulbenkian Foundation and its director, Dr. Zaven Yegavian, have provided
crucial support to the Catholicos in all the renovation works. Previously
carried out projects that should be mentioned include the Seminary in
Bikfaya, the Archival department, the publishing house and its adjacent
sections.

On this occasion, the Pontiff highly praised all the philanthropists,
considering that their faith towards the mission of Catholicosate of Cilicia
is worthy of appreciation by the people.

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View the photos here:
c/Photos/Photos26.htm
http://www.armenianorthodoxc hurch.org/v04/doc/Photos/Photos27.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.