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
Video link: os/"Culture%20of%20Armenian%20Cilicia"-% 201st%20day.avi
THE CONFERENCE ON "THE CULTURE OF CILICIAN ARMENIA" OPENS IN ANTELIAS
The conference on "The Culture of Cilician Armenia" was officially
inaugurated in the Antelias headquarters of the Catholicosate of Cilicia on
January 14 under the patronage of His Holiness Catholicos Aram I. The
conference is jointly organized by the Catholicosate of Cilicia and the
Mashdots Library in Yerevan and will convene until January 17.
75 experts from around the world, Armenian and foreign Armenologists have
arrived in Antelias to deliver lectures and participate in the conference.
The conference started its discussions with an opening prayer. Bishop Nareg
Alemezian welcomed the attendants on behalf of the organizing committee.
His Holiness Aram I delivered the keynote address of the opening session in
English. His speech became a guideline for the entire conference. The
Catholicos presented a general analysis of Armenian Cilicia and its value in
the life of Armenians. Viewing Cilicia from the lens of its inter-faith,
international and multi-cultural status, His Holiness said: The Cilician
period was enriching for the life and history of our nation in every aspect.
It was the first organized Diaspora of our nation. It was in Cilicia that
Christianity met Islam and vice versa. The culture that was born in Cilician
Armenia could in reality be called Cilician culture with its uniqueness. It
is particularly characterized with a history of wide exposure to the outside
world. The new environment would become cause for the reform of our culture.
Accepting the other without however losing its identity is what made Cilicia
a unique place for our people. Inter-faith life was also enriching and while
remaining true to its theology and creed, our church engaged in dialogue
during the Cilician period, opening new horizons for itself.
His Holiness concluded his speech by stating that "Cilician culture is
neither a historical anachronism nor an appendix or annex of Armenian
cultural heritage. It is integral and inseparable part of Armenian culture
and history, and a major and remarkable milestone in the process of growth
and formation of Armenian culture. In fact, faithfulness to the past
acquires its true meaning by critical openness to new realities and espaces.
Faithfulness to our roots requires a renewed vision towards the future. This
was the path taken by the Armenian culture in Cilicia".
Then he said "Ecumenical openness, spirit of tolerance, engagement in
dialogue and concern for renewal marked the Cilician period of our history.
Questions and challenges pertaining to local and global, dialogue and
identity, faithfulness and tolerance, which the churches, religions,
cultures and societies acutely are facing today, have been boldly and
seriously wrestled with by the Armenian culture in Cilicia. . The present
diaspora is largely the continuation of Cilicia; it is, in a sense, a new
Cilicia endowed with the same culture of dialogue and tolerance. Indeed,
without Cilicia the Armenian culture would have been greatly impoverished.
The Catholicosate of Cilicia remains the inheritor of this sacred legacy and
great vision."
The first five sessions that followed were dedicated to issues related to
the history of Cilician Armenia, its diplomacy and medieval Armenian
universities. Bishop Nareg chaired the first session, during which Edward
Baghdasarian presented a historical overview of the start of the Cilician
kingdom.
The late morning session (11:00-12:30 PM) chaired by Mihran Minassian and
dedicated to historical issues also featured presentations by Claude
Moutafian (French-Armenian relations during the Crusades) and Tamar
Boyadjian (The Mongols according to three Armenian medieval sources).
Anna Balian chaired the first afternoon session (2:00-3:30 PM) discussing
other historical issues. Kevork Der-Vartanian and Vahan Der-Ghevontian
talked about two important periods in the history of Cilician Armenia: The
importance of Hagop Sesetsi’s historical chronology and the role of
Catholicos Krikor IV Degha in the relations between Cilicia and Egypt.
The following session (4:00-5:00 PM) was reserved for the topic of diplomacy
and was chaired by Armen Der-Sdepanian. Jean-Claude Wazen talked about
"Western diplomacy in Cilicia in the 12th-15th centuries", Vahe Tashdjian
presented the topic "The strategy of France to keep Cilicia and its
development", while Kenraig Avakian touched on more recent times by talking
about "The Cilician Armenians in the United States and their contribution to
the homeland."
The final session of the first day (5:30-6:30 PM) convened under the title
"Medieval Armenian universities" and was chaired by Krikor Beledian. Arpenig
Ghazarosian provided a general overview of "The medieval Armenian
universities and places of study of Cilicia." Approaching the topic from a
more specific angle, Hasmig Badalian talked about the "History of the
socio-cultural and educational center of Sgevra" in the 12th-14th centuries.
Finally, Stella Vartanian delivered a presentation on the "Medical School of
Cilicia and its scientific heritage," preparing the ground for further
discussions by the conference.
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View the photos here:
c/Photos/Photos78.htm
http://www.armenianorthodoxc hurch.org/v04/doc/Photos/Photos79.htm
Video link: os/"Culture%20of%20Armenian%20Cilicia"-% 201st%20day.avi
*****
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.