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
IRAQI CHURCH LEADERS MEET IN BEIRUT (LEBANON)
The World Council of Churches and the Middle East Council of Churches had
jointly organized a meeting in Beirut from 9-11 February 2009. The meeting
was held at Fetaa conference center and a representative of the Armenian
Catholicostae of Cilicia also attended the meeting.
The purpose of the meeting was to discuss Christian presence in Iraq and the
need to strengthen the churches and their institutions. Christians in Iraq
suffered both during the war and the events after the end of the war. At the
end of the meeting, the Church Leaders visited His Holines Aram I at his
headquarters at the Catholicosate and shared with him their recommendations.
After welcoming his guests, the Catholicos said: "Our Catholicosate is home
for all Christians because we believe that through prayers, cooperation and
continuous dialogue will serve best our people and the people of Iraq. He
then made a retrospective review with the Church Leaders of the efforts of
the World Council of Churches while he was the Moderator, and those of the
Middle East Council of Churches most recently, as one of its Presidents. He
encouraged the Churches in Iraq to respond with one voice and one position
to the situation in their country, and enter into dialogue with their Muslim
co-citizens with renewed understanding of post war Iraqi society.
At the end of the meeting, His Holiness Aram I briefed the Church Leaders of
his conversation with His Holiness Pope Benedict XVIth on this matter,
during his visit to Vatican in November 2008, and assured them of the
continued support of the Middle East Council of Churches.
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View the photo here:
tos/Photos357.htm#3
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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.