The Hindu, India
Feb 27 2010

Aram I: ready to be part of conciliation in Indian church

Staff Reporter

KOTTAYAM: Catholicos Aram I of the Holy See of Cilicia of the Armenian
Apostolic Church has called for unity and reconciliation based on
mutual respect, tolerance and confidence among churches.

Speaking to mediapersons here on Friday, the pontiff, a champion of
ecumenism, said he was here as a guest of the Orthodox Church
(Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church). While he has not come here with
any specific mission of conciliation among the churches in India, as a
person who firmly believes in ecumenical causes, he could not remain
indifferent to the divisive situation (involving the Orthodox Church
and the Jacobite Syrian Christian Church).

Reacting to a question, Catholicos Aram I said while he would not
initiate any reconciliation initiative on his own, as a person, he was
ready to be part of any initiative in that direction. At this stage it
is not proper to ask any of the sides to take the initiative, but
unity is the need of the hour for the Oriental Orthodox churches. The
primary initiative should be on confidence-building measures among the
people. Any move towards consensus would remain nonsense if it is not
brought down to the people-to-people level,’ he said and added that
not only the clergy but also the laity should form part of the
initiative. `Together they should work to heal the divisiveness,’ he
said.

It is the necessity of all communities to combat intolerance and lack
of confidence among various communities, he said.The Catholicos said
India was an exemplary example of diversity, as was his homeland,
Lebanon, in preserving and respecting diversity. India is unique in
the sense that it combines rich diversity with profound spirituality,
he said.

0022755500700.htm

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress