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

HIS HOLINESS ARAM I CONGRATULATES THE
HENCHAGIAN PARTY ON ITS 120TH ANNIVERSARY

His Holiness Aram I congratulated the 120th anniversary of the Social
Democrat Henchagian party in a special Pontifical letter, which was read
during an event organized in Beirut on December 2.

Following a request from the party’s Central Committee, the Pontiff decided
to mark this anniversary in a special letter. Primate of the Diocese of
Lebanon Bishop Kegham Khatcherian and V. Rev. Norayr Ashekian attended the
event on behalf of His Holiness.

The Primate read the Catholicos’ letter during the event. Referring to the
party’s history in particular, His Holiness said: "A retrospective look to
the life and work of this political organization clearly demonstrates that
through its brave spirit, revolutionary stance, commitment to service and
readiness for self-sacrifice, the party served our nation starting with the
bitter years of repression under the Ottoman Empire to the contemporary
times of what has become the Diaspora and newly independent Armenia in the
last fifteen years."

The Pontiff then viewed the party’s present in relation to the independent
Armenian state, Armenia-Diaspora relations and our national priorities: "The
strengthening of the free and independent homeland, the pursuit of our
nation’s rights, the further organization of the Diaspora and the
enhancement of cooperation between Armenia and the Diaspora were and have
remained the epitome and priorities of the party’s life and work. For the
realization of these pan-national projects, the Henchagian Party, both in
words and action, encouraged inter-partite cooperation and the strengthening
of national unity in Armenia and the communities of the Diaspora.

On this occasion, the Pontiff also encouraged the members of the party to
continue their efforts with renewed commitment.

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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.