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
HIS HOLINESS ARAM I INVITED TO AN INTERFAITH SYMPOSIUM FOLLOWING THE
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE CENTRE FOR COMMUNICATION AND DIALOGUE OF RELIGIONS BY
KING ABDALLAH OF SAUDI ARABIA
Recently, during a meeting of the Muslim World League at its headquarters in
Mecca, King Abdallah Ben Abdel Aziz of Saudi Arabia announced the creation
of the Centre for Communication and Dialogue of Religions and Civilizations.
His Holiness Aram I has been invited to an Interfaith Symposium, 17-18 July
in Madrid, Spain, organized by the Muslim World League as a follow-up to the
King’s initiative.
In response to the invitation, His Holiness made the following comments to
the press:
We welcome the recent initiative of the Saudi Monarch to create such a
Centre. Communication and dialogue among religions, civilisations and
cultures will open up new ways of responding to the challenges of today.
As the Armenian Church and people, our long life together with Islam in the
Middle East, as well as our personal experience in international ecumenical
movement in the area of interfaith dialogues, we have arrived at the
conclusion that dialogue, mutual understanding and mutual respect among
religions, cultures and civilizations are essential for the common future of
humanity.
Differences among religions, cultures and civilizations exist. We must
accept and respect these differences rather than try to change them.
Accepting differences strengthens interreligious relations. Emphasizing
differences and using them for non-religious purposes lead to conflict and
violence.
Religions not only have differences, they also have common values. We should
deepen our understanding of these values. Today, because of the decline of
moral values, injustice, conflict, insecurity, terrorism, and natural
disasters, humanity is facing numerous problems. Religions cannot remain
indifferent towards these problems. By responding together, all religions
will not only accomplish their vocation, but also open up new ways to peace,
justice and security.
Irrespective of our divisions we have a common future for all humanity.
Irrespective of our differences in religion, race and culture, we are bound
to live together on this earth. The challenge of having a common future
should lead us build a just and peaceful world for everybody.
Against this background we welcome this important initiative of the King of
Saudi Arabia. In our opinion, the new Centre should give particular
attention to Christian-Muslim dialogue in the Middle East. Christians and
Muslims have lived together in this region and built a common life together
for many centuries. It is our wish that our particular experience may
contribute to a mutual understanding on other national and regional levels.
We believe that such a step will contribute immensely to inter-religious
dialogue on the international level.
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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.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
