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
"THOSE PRESERVING OUT INSTITUTIONS ARE PEOPLE
WHO HAVE RECEIVED A CHRISTIAN AND ARMENIAN EDUCATION"
STRESSES THE PONTIFF
IN HIS MID-LENT ADDRESS
Accepting an invitation by the Primate of the Diocese of Lebanon, Bishop
Kegham Khatcherian, and the Armenian National Authorities, Catholicos Aram I
presided over the Mid-Lent Sunrise Service held at Saint Neshan Mother
Church in Beirut. Members of the Cilician Brotherhood, Seminary students and
a large crowd of believers attended the service.
The Seminary students sang the hymns of the Sunrise Service putting on a
beautiful, harmonious performance. It has become customary for Armenian
Pontiffs to visit the Mother Church of the Diocese of Lebanon on the
occasion of Mid-Lent and convey their Pontifical message to believers.
After the Sunrise Service, Bishop Kegham welcomed the Catholicos on behalf
of the Political and Religious Assemblies of the Diocese’s National
Authorities and the faithful. Highlighting the presence of a spiritual
thirst among the people, the Primate considered the Pontiff’s visit an
extraordinary opportunity to satisfy that thirst.
The Catholicos addressed the attendants, offering his praise to Bishop
Khatcherian, the Assemblies of the National Authorities and all Diocesan
structures as well as to all those who have kept church life active starting
with the clergy to the humble servants of the Church.
In his Sermon, the Spiritual Leader put an emphasis on the formation of
human beings. He observed that the institutions Armenians today have as a
community need people to survive; well-prepared and dedicated people to
serve. "Those who preserve our institutions are people who have received a
Christian and Armenian formation," the Catholicos said.
In this context, His Holiness also stressed the importance of formation in
the life of the church, where the center for that formation is the Seminary.
He spoke about the Seminary’s mission for the service of our nation in the
past several decades.
The Catholicos also spoke about the Year of Christian Education and the
re-evaluation of Christian values. He stressed that the theme chosen for
2008 provides the best opportunity for a re-discussions of moral values in
the life of the Armenian family, school and our institutions, to cultivate
Armenian life around the church.
On the practical nature of Christian Education, the Pontiff warned the
faithful to avoid shallow approaches, pointing out that spiritual and
religious education does not solely mean an understanding and knowledge of
the Bible. Rather, real spiritual education- Christian Education- lies in
experiencing the teachings of the Bible in our daily lives.
Finally, the Catholicos stressed that Christian Education should be carried
out strictly on the basis of the Armenian Church’s creed and traditions, not
foreign structures.
The Pontifical address was followed by a collective signing of "Der
Voghormiya" and "Hayr Mer" with the participation of believers.
The Council and Women’s Committee of the Saint Neshan Church organized a
luncheon in the Prelacy in honor of the Pontiff. Seminary students, church
benefactors and community members attended the luncheon.
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View the photos here:
c/Photos/Photos198.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.