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

"LET US RENEW OUR LIFE IN COMMUNITY IN 2009"
HIS HOLINESS ARAM I

On New Year’s Day, after the Holy Liturgy, His Holiness Aram I received the
members of the congregation in the Main Hall of his residence in Antelias.

On behalf of the brotherhood and the laity, Bishop Nareg Alemezian wished
His Holiness long life and thanked him for his spiritual leadership, his
efforts for the renewal of the church, his concern for the youth and his
decision to declare 2009 the Year for Youth.

In his New Year’s message His Holiness Aram I emphasized the importance of
building community. "Building community, he said, is in the essence of our
church, and our vision of community is based on mutual accountability.
Mutual accountability, he continued, implies building life on shared values
and not on vested interests. If we still exist as a nation, it is because of
our commitment as a people to our shared values. We should reaffirm this
legacy and build our community with integrity and objectivity. A community
that is founded on shared values, acts with integrity and is guided by
objectivity, will more readily renew itself and its institutions."

Catholicos Aram I then stressed the vital importance of the renewal of the
Armenian Church: "When I speak of institutions, I also mean the church. The
church is not building where we pray. The church is a mission. The mission
is to become a praying and life-giving community. As 2009 will be the year
of Youth, I invite you to help the youth build our new community of
mission."

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View the photos here:
tos/Photos351.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.