PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Director
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: info@ArmenianOrthodoxChurch.org
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

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HIS HOLINESS ARAM I HONORS TWO WOMEN’S ORGANIZATIONS,
THE ARMENIAN RELIEF SOCIETY AND THE ARMENIAN RELIEF CROSS IN LEBANON,
WITH THE INSIGNIA OF ST. MESROB MASHDOTZ OF THE CATHOLICOSATE OF CILICIA

On Friday 9 April 2010, at the UNESCO Palace in Beirut, two Women’s
Organizations celebrated their anniversaries under the auspices of His
Holiness Aram I.

Representatives of the Armenian Orthodox Church, the Catholic Church and the
Evangelical Church, as well as government officials, members of Parliament,
leaders of Armenian and Lebanese Political Parties, representatives of civil
society organizations, past and present sponsors, members and volunteers of
the two organization, and men and women of the community came to celebrate
the Centennial of the Armenian Relief Society (HOM), an NGO with the UN
Social and Economic Commission, and the 80th Anniversary of the Armenian
Relief Cross – Lebanon (LOKH).

The programme included speeches and cultural presentations.

After the welcoming speeches, Ms. Seta Khedeshian presented the chronology
of the activities of the Armenian Relief Society and showed how their
activities have intertwined with important moments of the nation’s history.
Speaking of recent decades, she mentioned their work in post-earthquake
reconstruction in Armenia and during the struggles of independence of
Armenia and Nagorno Karabagh, with the demise of the Soviet Union.

The last speaker, Ms. Vicky Marashlian, spoke in English and presented the
goals of the Armenian Relief Society. As an NGO, the Society responds both
to international humanitarian needs and those of Armenian communities in
Armenia and the Diaspora.

H.G. Bishop Kegham Khatcherian, the Armenian Orthodox Prelate of Lebanon,
representing His Holiness Aram I, concluded the evening. The Bishop said
that His Holiness highly valued the work of the committed women of HOM and
LOKH, and hoped that these anniversaries would be an occasion for everybody
to recognize the important role of women in sustaining the Nation. He then
presented the Organizations with the Insignia of St. Mesrob Mashdotz of the
Catholicosate of Cilicia.

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View photo here:
tos/Photos473.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.