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: [email protected]
Web:
PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon
Armenian version: nian.htm
HIS HOLINESS ARAM I CONGRATULATES
THE NEWLY ELECTED PATRIARCH OF RUSSIA OUTSPOKEN KIRILL
The Synod of the Russian Church elected the Metropolitan of Smolensk and
Kaliningrad, Outspoken Kirill, as Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia on
January 27. Metropolitan Kirill has been the director of the Russian Church’s
Ecumenical relations for over thirty years. He has been a member of the
World Council of Churches’ Central and Executive Committees, as well as
other ecumenical bodies.
His Holiness Aram I is well acquainted with the Patriarch and has had close
collaboration with him. On two occasions throughout the past decade, the
newly elected Patriarch has visited Antelias to participate in ecumenical
meetings.
In his congratulatory letter addressed to the Patriarch, His Holiness
expressed his delights over the news and refers to the warm friendship and
close cooperation that has existed between himself and the Patriarch since
1975, particularly in the field of ecumenical relations. His Holiness
expressed hope that through his vast experience in interfaith relations,
Patriarch Kirill will open a new page in the contemporary history of the
Russian Church.
Finally, The Pontiff informed the Patriarch that a delegation of the
Catholicosate of Cilicia composed of Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan (Prelate of
the Eastern Prelacy of North America) and Bishop Nareg Alemezian (Ecumenical
Officer of the Cathoicosate) will attend his enthronement ceremony in Moscow
on February 1.
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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.