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 DECLARES 2008 YEAR OF CHRISTIAN EDUCATION

In the last decade the Catholicosate of Cilicia has worked hard to bring
under the spotlight the main concerns of the Armenian Church and people and
to raise them on various occasions throughout the year.

Making such themes the symbols of each of the last few years, His Holiness
Aram I put our national consciousness in motion and invited the Armenian
nation to a renaissance.

His Holiness had declared 2007 the "Year of the Armenian Language". During
this year, events and initiatives in Lebanon and all the communities
highlighted the importance of the mother tongue.

Following this tradition, in a special Encyclical the Pontiff declared 2008
as the Year of Christian Education.

Starting with the new generation, Christian education will become the center
of great attention during 2008. Religious renaissance has become a global
phenomenon recently and the world look towards the Church with great
expectations. The spiritual education of the Church is crucial for society
particularly in the struggle against the spread of immoral habits in the
youth.

In his Pontifical Encyclical the Catholicos calls for bringing under the
spotlight the dedicated work of Christian education carried out through the
Church. He cautions Armenians against getting involved in other forms of
religious education outside the church and anti-national approaches.

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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.