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

THE CATHOLICOSATE OF CILICIA BRINGS AN ACTIVE PARTICIPATION IN THE ASSEMBLY
OF THE
MIDDLE EAST COUNCIL OF CHURCHES

The 9th General Assembly of the Middle East Council of Churches, convened in
Cyprus on November 27-30, concluded its sessions on Friday with the election
of Presidents, the General Secretary and the members of the council’s
Executive Committee.

Catholicos Aram I was elected as President on behalf of the Oriental
Orthodox Churches. The other presidents of MECC are: Patriarch of Jerusalem
His Holiness Teopilos III (Orthodox), Archbishop Boulos Matar (Roman
Catholic) and Rev. Safouad Bayadi (Protestant).

Bishop Kegham Khatcherian (Primate of the Diocese of Lebanon) was elected as
a member of the Executive Committee. General Secretary Dr. Gerges Saleh
(Coptic Orthodox Church) was reelected to his position.

During the Wednesday and Thursday sessions, the participants listened to and
discussed the reports of the MECC faith and unity, education, life and
service units, as well as report by the communication, Christian-Muslim
dialogue, justice, peace and human rights, ecumenical and international
affairs, Palestinian refugees, social services and administrative-economic
departments.

The issue of infrastructure reform within the MECC received great attention
and was subjected to a detailed discussion by the participants. In lights of
the several proposals made, the Assembly decided this issue would become one
of the priorities of the new Executive Committee.

The Assembly participants also had the opportunity to listen to the
welcoming remarks and concerns of ecumenical councils and organizations
cooperating with the MECC.

The Ambassador of Lebanon to Cyprus, Michel Khoury, organized a dinner
reception in the Embassy on Thursday in honour of the all the participants
in the Assembly.

The Assembly concluded with collective prayers followed by a meeting of the
newly elected Executive Committee.

The Standing Committee of the Oriental Orthodox Churches in the Middle East
convened on November 28-29 in the same location. The items on the meeting’s
agenda included official theological dialogues, ecumenical issues and the
imperative of strengthening cooperation within the family of Oriental
Orthodox Churches.

Bishop Nareg held a series of meetings with ecumenical guests, including
representatives from the Roman Catholic, Anglican and Lutheran Churches.
During these meetings, the two sides exchanged view on important issues in
the ecumenical field. Bishop Nareg emphasized the commitment of His Holiness
Aram I and the Catholicosate of Cilicia to this movement.

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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 Ecumenical
activities 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.