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
"WITH THE INCARNATION, WE RECEIVED THE COMMANDMENT OF LOVE AS THE NEW LAW"
Said His Holiness Aram I in his Christmas Sermon
On Tuesday 6 January 2009, Armenians all over the world celebrated
Christmas, the Holy Feast of the Incarnation and Epiphany. His Holiness Aram
I celebrated the Holy Liturgy at St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral in
Antelias in the presence of Lebanese Government officials, community leaders
and a large number of believers.
In his sermon His Holiness invited the believers to respond to the message
of renewal and love transmitted through the Birth of Jesus. He said that the
commandment of love as the new law was given to us with the Incarnation. He
then asked: "How do we live and express the love that came to us from Heaven
through the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem? How close do we feel we are to God?
The only way to discover whether God is in us is to love one another. As the
Apostle said, whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love
(1 John 4:7-11). Do we consider ourselves children of God? We should because
through Nativity God showed his love to all of humanity."
He then linked the message of the new commandment of love to the situation
in Lebanon and the Middle East. He hoped that the national reconciliation
process based on a dialogue of love would lead to radical solutions of the
political problems in the country. He also appealed to the political leaders
to serve the people with love and deep commitment and alleviate their social
and economic difficulties. Finally, he called upon the international
community to stop the bloodshed in Gaza , care for the innocent victims and
find a permanent solution to the Palestinian question.
After the Liturgy and on the following day, His Holiness Aram I received
Lebanese Government Officials, representatives of Diplomatic Corps and
Leaders of the Armenian Community in Lebanon, who came to convey their good
wishes on the occasion of Armenian Christmas.
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View the photos here:
tos/Photos353.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.