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: [email protected]
Web:
PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon
Armenian version: nian.htm
"RENEWAL, RELEVANCE AND CREDIBILITY SHOULD CONSTITUTE THE GUIDING PRINCIPLES
OF THE MIDDLE EAST COUNCIL OF CHURCHES"
SAID HIS HOLINESS ARAM I
Opening the first full meeting of the newly elected Executive Committee of
the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), His Holiness Aram I depicted the
actual estate of the Christian presence in the Middle East as one "full of
uncertainties and new opportunities, challenges and hope". He reminded that
"the churches have, throughout their history in this region, faced
tremendous crises. They have survived all sorts of calamities with their
firm faith and commitment to the Gospel of Christ".
Catholicos Aram I identified a number of concerns emerging from the
Christian presence in the Middle East. He said that "as integral part of the
Middle Eastern societies, the Christian communities are strongly impacted by
the enormous changes and developments taking place in the region. We cannot
remain indifferent by simply observing the emergence of new realities around
us. We must act responsibly, sustained by Gospel values".
His Holiness emphasized the vital importance of the MECC as the only
regional ecumenical organization: "The MECC is the churches’ togetherness.
We are stronger when we are together. Therefore, we must engage our
ecumenical fellowship in a process of renewal. It is through a process of
critical and realistic self-assessment that the Council gains more
credibility and becomes more relevant".
The Executive Committee is meeting at the Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia,
in Antelias, Lebanon.
His Holiness has become one of the founding members of the MECC early in
70’s and a member of its Executive Committee. From 1991-2005, for two terms,
Aram I has served as Moderator of the World Council of Churches.
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View the photos here:
c/Photos/Photos202.htm
http://www.armenianorthodox church.org/v04/doc/Photos/Photos203.htm
http://www .armenianorthodoxchurch.org/v04/doc/Photos/Photos2 04.htm
oc/Photos/Photos205.htm
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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.