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
"AS OUR CATHOLICOSATE’S HEART, THE SEMINARY WILL ALWAYS BEAT WITH FAITH"
SAYS HIS HOLINESS ARAM I
The Catholicosate of Cilicia’s Seminary concluded yet another academic year
during its 78th annual gradual ceremony held in Bikfayya on June 5 under the
auspices of His Holiness Aram I. Cilician Brotherhood members, the Seminary’s
faculty, the benefactors and parents attended the ceremony.
The ceremony featured a special program prepared by the Seminary’s
management. Deacons Manuel Ohanian, Mihran Balkevorkian and Alexan
Kalaydjian read sections from the Book of Lamentation "Nareg", followed by
the musical recitation by the Catholicosate’s Choir of Hagop Oshagan’s
"Asdudzo Shountchov" poem.
Speaking on behalf of the graduates, Deacon Hagop Kortmossian expressed
gratitude to His Holiness Aram I, the Dean and faculty for their
contribution in his and his friends’ spiritual-intellectual formation.
Bishop Shahe Panossian presented the annual report outlining the Seminary’s
educational activities throughout the year, the work of the management and
faculty, as well as the students’ educational, social and church life. The
Dean then invited His Holiness Aram I to distribute the degrees and deliver
his Pontifical address.
After conferring the degrees upon the Seminary’s newest graduates, the
Pontiff praised the functions of the Seminary, highlighting two main aspects
characteristic of this institution. He first observed that faith and
knowledge are conveyed to the students of the Seminary in a beautifully
interrelated way. He considered this to be one of the unique characteristics
of the Seminary and one that sets it apart from other educational
institutions.
"As the heart of our Catholicosate, the Seminary will always beat with
faith, pumping blood to our church and nation. Faith and knowledge are
delivered together here. And one of the main conflicts of today’s world
rests in this separation of faith from reason. Faith should be strengthened
with reason and vice versa, because as such they become more effective. This
is what we try to accomplish in the Seminary in order to turn it into a
source of our nation’s spiritual and national education," the Pontiff
stressed.
On the quality of Seminary alumni, His Holiness assured: "For our Holy See
quantity has no value whatsoever. For us, quality it is quality that is
important. Quantity vanishes like leaves falling off a tree. However, that
which has a lasting impact, that which stands in front of history, that
which survives difficult times through faith is quality and we will give
important to that quality."
Finally, the Pontiff expressed great praise for the work carried out by the
Seminary’s Dean, its assistants, faculty members, benefactors, parents and
students. Addressing the students, he encouraged them to embrace quality,
holding high the spirit that the Seminary passed on to them and taking it
with them to their various fields of service in the future.
A reception followed the official ceremony. The Seminary’s Yearbook,
"Klatsor", was distributed to the attendants as a beautiful compilation of
the year-long work of students.
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View the photos here:
c/Photos/Photos269.htm
http://www.armenianorthodox church.org/v04/doc/Photos/Photos270.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 Theological
Seminary 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.