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

ON THE OCCASION OF THE SEMINARY’S 79TH ANNIVERSARY

"THE SEMINARY IS A TREASURE BOX RICH IN SPIRITUAL AND INTELLECTUAL VALUES"

SAYS HIS HOLINESS ARAM I

The 79th academic year of the Catholicosate of Cilicia’s Seminary was
inaugurated this Sunday during an official ceremony in the Veharan following
the Holy Mass on the occasion of the Feast of the Holy Translators
(Tarkmantchats).

His Holiness Aram I presided over the Mass in the Cathedral. Bishop Shahe
Panossian, the Seminary Dean, officiated the Mass. In his sermon, Bishop
Panossian spoke about the Seminary’s mission in the service of the church
and the people.

Following the mass, the procession of the Cilician Brotherhood and Seminary
students was led by His Holiness Aram I to the Veharan, where the opening
ceremony was held. The Seminary’s Alma Mater and hymns on the Feast of
Translation were sung. Sections from the Holy Gospel and Nareg were read.

Speaking on behalf of the Seminary’s management, Bishop Shahe highlighted
the sacred work carried out by the Seminary in passing on a noble mission to
the new generation. "The responsibility for this task is placed on our
shoulders for the sake of our church’s and the Catholicosate of Cilicia’s
further growth," he said. Finally, the Bishop expressed his gratitude to the
Pontiff who closely follows life in the Seminary and the activities of its
management.

With his pontifical blessings His Holiness Aram I announced the new academic
year opened and stressed the need to preserve our church’s and nation’s
history and traditions. Looking at the legacy of our translating
forefathers, His Holiness spoke about the beginning of the new academic year
as an occasion that spreads hope in Armenian communities worldwide. The
Pontiff also spoke about certain phenomena that drive us away from our
roots. He called upon those present and particularly the Seminary students
to study the history of our church and the tradition of our forefathers very
well so that they can pass it on in its true form to the people.

His Holiness also spoke about the Seminary’s mission. The Pontiff depicted
the Seminary as an intellectual-spiritual establishment, where the Armenian
youth is formed and prepared to serve a mission. Portraying the Seminary as
a treasure box of spiritual and intellectual values, His Holiness called
upon new and old students to embrace those values, become enriched with them
and to serve our nation, church and Motherland with utmost dedication.

The Seminary students, their parents and the believers attending the
ceremony received the Pontiff’s blessings through Atchahampouyr while the
Catholicosate’s Seminary sung "Cilicia" and "I Veh Partsants". Following the
staff meeting on Monday, October 13, the classes will begin in the Seminary
in Bikfaya on October 14.

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View the photos here:
tos/Photos317.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 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.