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

AN ECUMENICAL GATHERING TO ASSESS THE CURRENT STATE OF DIALOGUE WITH ISLAM

On June 2, 2008, the Archbishop of Canterbury convened an ecumenical
gathering to discuss the letter, ‘A Common Word between Us and You’, which
was signed on 13 October 2007 by 138 Muslim scholars from different branches
of Islam. Many Christian leaders and academic institutions viewed the letter
as an invitation to deepen Christian-Muslim relations. The response of
Catholicos Aram I, in which he reflected on the long history of Armenian
coexistence with Islam, made concrete recommendations for follow-up.

The purpose of the gathering at the Church House in Westminster was to
discuss the current state of dialogue. Forty persons from different
continents, churches and academic institutions took part in the gathering.
Archbishop Avak Asadourian, from the Holy See of Etchmiadzin, and Mrs. Teny
Pirri-Simonian, the Vice-President of the Ecumenical Committee of the Holy
See of Cilicia, represented the Armenian Church. The meeting reflected
different attitudes towards and experiences with Islam; the differences
seemed to depend on whether Christians are a majority or minority in the
countries where they live with Muslims. It also demonstrated different
perspectives of expressing the Christian faith in pluralist societies. The
participants acknowledged that some churches and institutions are doing
significant work in dialogue and peace building; they emphasized the great
need to share their experiences, build consensus and educate the youth.

##
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.