PRESS RELEASE – Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Tel: (+961- 4) 410001, 410003
Fax: (+961- 4) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:
PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon
`Lent is an invitation to accountability’
Aram I Catholicos
Antelias – 9 March 2015. As every year, His Holiness Aram I presided
over the Arevakal (mid-Lent sunrise service) at St. Nishan Cathedral of
the Diocese of Lebanon, the seminary choir performing the service.
In his message, the Catholicos reminded the faithful that Lent is a
spiritual journey of self-examination. Each Sunday of Lent is named
after a miracle of Jesus or a biblical story that sets the principles of
the journey. He then emphasized three points:
First, although the Father-Son reciprocal relationship, which is
expressed in the Parable of the Prodigal Son, is unique to Christianity,
the relationship also extends to all of humanity as God’s adopted
children.
Second, God called God gave humanity a special mission to safeguard the
integrity of His creation. Humanity often forgets this God-given noble
mission and exploits and destroys the environment for misguided
purposes. He also said that Lent reminds us of this responsibility and
obligation and calls us to hold fast to this priority.
Third, accountability is inseparable from responsibility. The Parable of
the Talents focuses on accountability as an essential part of Christian
ethics. Lent reminds us to assume this God-given duty towards ourselves,
our church and our families.
His Holiness Aram I concluded his message with a reference to the 100th
Anniversary Commemorations of the Armenian Genocide; he said, `In
response to the legacy of our victims, the survivors organized our
communities and demanded justice with deepened Christian faith, hope and
a strong sense of responsibility and accountability. The Mid-Lent and
the current anniversary is an invitation to our people to renew their
Christian faith, pursue, responsibly and with accountability, the
aspirations of our nation and its demand for justice.’
The Catholicos then joined the Prelate, members of the Diocesan Council,
committees, the faithful and the seminarians for a community breakfast.
His Holiness Aram I receives the Minister of Diaspora of Armenia
Antelias – 13 March 2015. On Friday morning Catholicos Aram I received
Minister of Diaspora, Her Excellency Heranoush Hagopian, and the
Ambassador of Armenia to Lebanon, His Excellency Ashod Kocharian.
They discussed the 100th anniversary commemorations of the Armenian
Genocide, as well as Armenia-Diaspora relations. At the end of the
meeting His Holiness praised the work of Minister Hagopian and called
for further strengthening of these relations.
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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: [email protected]