PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department

Tel: (+961- 4) 410001, 410003
Fax: (+961- 4) 419724
E- mail: info@armenianorthodoxchurch.org
Web:
PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

The Catholicosate of Cilicia remains committed to Ecumenism

Antelias – The clergy continue to share the concerns of churches in
the region and build ecumenical relations by representing the
Catholicosate at special events.

Rev. Housig Mardirossian, the Ecumenical Officer, attended the 25th
Anniversary celebrations of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the
Middle East. He presented His Holiness Aram I’s greetings to Patriarch
Laham and his message to the bishops, inviting them to strengthen
ecumenical relations in the region.

Bishop Norayr Ashekian transmitted the condolences of Catholicos Aram I
to the Coptic Bishop of Lebanon for the decapitation of 21 Coptic
Christians in Libya by Muslim fundamentalists.

Archbishop Shahé Panossian, Prelate of Lebanon, represented His
Holiness Aram I at the special event organized by the Syriac Catholic
Church, launching the 100th anniversary commemorative activities of the
massacre of their faithful by Turkey. On behalf of the Catholicos, he
expressed the solidarity of the Armenian people with the Syriac Church
against this inhuman crime.

Memorial Service for the victims of Sumgayit victims in Antelias

Antelias – 1 March 2015. On Sunday, following the Holy Liturgy at the
St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral in Antelias, His Holiness Aram I
presided over the memorial service for the Armenian victims of the
massacres by Azeris in Sumgayit 27 years ago. The service was a reminder
of the impunity enjoyed by selective states since the Armenian Genocide
100 years by Turkey.

The Sixth meeting between the Catholicosate of Cilicia and the
Center for the Islamic Culture & Relations of Islamic Republic of Iran
Will begin in Antelias

Antelias – 3 March 2013. On Tuesday His Holiness Aram I will preside
over the opening of the 6th biennial meeting in Antelias. The dialogue
between the Catholicosate of Cilicia and the Islamic Republic of Iran
began 15 years ago and takes place interchangeably between Tehran and
Antelias.

During the two-day meeting 25 experts representing the Catholicosate and
the Islamic Culture Center of the Islamic Republic of Iran will discuss
the theme `the imperative of Christian-Muslim dialogue for justice and
sustainable peace in the Middle East.’ The meeting will conclude with
a joint statement.

His Holiness Aram I condemns the kidnapping of Christians and monitors
the situation of Armenians

Antelias – 2 March 2013. After a brief absence, His Holiness Aram I
returned to Lebanon and received Mor Theophilus George Saliba,
Metropolitan of Mount Lebanon, Syrian Orthodox Archbishopric and
Secretary to the Holy Synod, who described to him the recent attacks on
the Christian villages in the Al-Hasakeh region of Syria near the far
northeast of the country. According to the Metropolitan, many churches
were burnt and hundreds of members of the community kidnapped by
fundamentalists.

After condemning the violent act against the Christians and to preempt
similar acts, Catholicos Aram I spoke of the importance of monitoring
the situation and the urgency of promoting Christian-Muslim dialogue.

Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
PO Box : 70 317 Antelias – LEBANON
Tel: (+961-4) 410 001 / 3
Fax: (+961-4) 419724
E-mail: info@armenianorthodoxchurch.org