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

HIS HOLINESS ARAM I EXPRESSES HIS CONDOLENCES
TO THE THREE IRANIAN DIOCESES

His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Holy See of Cilicia dispatched the
following condolence letter to the Primate of the Diocese of Tehran,
Archbishop Sebouh Sarkissian, regarding the tragic death of 17 Armenians in
a horrifying accident near the borders of Iran.

Archbishop Sebouh Sarkisian
Primate of the Diocese of Tehran
Tehran, Iran

Dear Archbishop,

During our official visit to Damascus, Syria, we received with great pain
the news of the terrible accident that happened near the Turkish-Iranian
border. According to the information that reached us, 17 Armenians fell
victim to the accident and a similar number of people are injured. The
tragic incident happened as a group of pilgrims from Tehran, Ourmiya, Tabriz
and New Julfa had visited Western Armenia to tour our centuries-old
spiritual and intellectual monuments.

The loss is great; it deals a heavy blow to the Armenians of Iran and it
causes us great pain. At this time of mourning we share your pain with you.
At such moments we should turn to the Holy Spirit, asking Him spiritual
comfort. May God accept in his heavenly kingdom the souls of our innocent
compatriots.

We express our deepest condolences to the Primate of the Diocese of Tehran,
Archbishop Sebouh Sarkisian, the Primate of the Diocese of Isfahan, Bishop
Papken Charian, and the Primate of the Diocese of Azerbaijan, Bishop Neshan
Topouzian, the Armenian national committees of the three dioceses, the
families of the victims as well the Armenians of Iran.

We pray to God to protect our nation’s children in Iran and the rest of the
world from such accidents.

With Pontifical Love,

ARAM I
CATHOLICOS OF CILICIA
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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 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.