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: info@armenianorthodoxchurch.org
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

Armenian version: nian.htm

THE ARMENIAN CHURCH PARTICIPATES IN THE MEETING OF THE
ORIENTAL ORTHODOX FAMILY OF CHURCHES AND THE
LUTHERAN FAMILY OF CHURCHES IN GENEVA

A meeting of the Family of Oriental Orthodox Church and the family of
Lutheran Churches was held in the ecumenical center of Geneva on February 11
with the aim of discussing the possibilities of engaging the two families in
a formal theological dialogue.

>From the first years of his chairmanship of the World Council of Churches
and in response to an appeal by the Lutheran World Federation (LWF),
Catholicos Aram I had explored the most efficient ways and means to deepen
relations and collaboration between Oriental Orthodox churches and the
Lutheran World Federation.

Following an official letter from the General Secretary of LWF Dr. Ishmael
Noko, the Spiritual Leaders of the Oriental Orthodox Churches assigned
representatives to attend the meeting with the Lutheran delegation.

The Armenian Church actively participated in the meeting with its two
Pontifical Sees. Bishop Nareg Alemezian (Ecumenical Officer) represented the
Catholicosate of Cilicia, while Archbishop Viken Aykazian (Ecumenical
Officer of the Eastern Diocese of the United States) attended on behalf of
the Catholicosate of All Armenians.

Each of the participants in the meeting presented a brief history of their
church, the challenges it faces in the 21st century and its plans in light
of the official ties between the two families of churches.

The participants decided to hold their next meeting after the planned visit
by Dr. Ishmael Noko and a Lutheran delegation to the Spiritual Leaders of
the Oriental Orthodox Churches.

Like the Oriental Orthodox Churches, Lutherans are also scattered everywhere
in the world and form a global family of 68 million followers.

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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.