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 PARTICIPATION OF THE ARMENIAN CHURCH IN THE MEETING
OF THE WCC’S EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

The Executive Committee of the World Council of Churches (WCC) convened in
Lubeck, Germany on September 22-26. The WCC Executive Committee meets twice
a year and is accountable to the Central Committee.

Representing the Armenian Church at the meeting were Archbishop Vicken
Aykazian (Catholicosate of All Armenians) and Bishop Nareg Alemezian
(Catholicosate of Cilicia).

The agenda of the meeting featured the presentation of the General Secretary’s
report, the extension of his term by another year, the adoption of the
presidents’ assessment report, discussion of the 2009-2010 budget, the
presentation of future projects, the evaluation of the staff’s work and the
adoption of specific WCC positions on urgent socio-political issues.

The participants in the meeting agreed on extending the term of General
Secretary Dr. Sam Kobia until December 31 2009. They also decided to recruit
the Catholicosate of Cilicia’s candidate, Ms. Carla Khijoyan, as the
director of the department ‘justice, social service and commitment towards
creativity.’

On September 22 Bishop Nareg visited the center of the Lutheran Church in
Lubeck, which deals with refugees. Meeting with officials from the center,
His Holiness said: "I am the grandson of survivors from the Armenian
Genocide. The collective sorrow of the Genocide still pushes us to pursue
justice and the recognition of the Armenian Genocide to prevent other
genocides from being carried out."

Bishop Nareg also met the Head of Germany’s Evangelical Churches, Bishop
Wolfgang Huber, the former General Secretaries of WCC, Dr. Philip Potter and
Dr. Konrad Raiser, who spoke about His Holiness Aram I’s significant
contribution to the ecumenical movement and the WCC’s achievements during
his term as moderator of the Council. Bishop Nareg in his turn conveyed the
Armenian Pontiff’s greetings to his companions.

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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.