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:
SAIN T GREGORY THE ILLUMINATOR ONCE AGAIN BLESSES
THE ARMENIAN NATION WITH HIS RIGHT HAND
A large number of the faithful gathered in the Mother Cathedral in Antelias
on April 2 to attend the feast of St. Gregory the Illuminator and kiss relic
of his Right Hand, kept with much care at the Antelias headquarters of the
Armenian Orthodox Church (Catholicosate of Cilicia).
A few decades ago, the Armenian believers used to walk barefoot from the
various regions of Beirut to Antelias to kiss this relic of the Patron Saint
of the Armenian Church. The tradition goes back to Cilicia, where Armenians
used to climb to the historical cathedral of Sis to renew their faith and
kiss this centuries-old relic.
True to this old Armenian tradition, a group of Seminary students walked
from Bikfaya to Antelias as a symbol of a renewal of their faith with the
intention of becoming worthy of the blessings of this holy Hand. This
national relic has traveled with the Catholicosate of Cilicia through the
paths of Genocide and deportation and today once again extends its blessings
to the entire Armenian nation.
Bishop Dirayr Panossian celebrated the mass and delivered a sermon on the
occasion of the day that marks St. Gregory the Illuminator’s imprisonment
into Khor Virab (the pit) and the Catholicosate’s Pilgrimage Day. His
Holiness Aram I presided over the Church service and the procession of the
Patron Saint’s Right Hand as well as other relics. Members of the Cilician
Brotherhood, priests, guests and a large number of faithful participated in
the procession.
His Grace Dirayr Panossian focused on the history of the See of Cilicia in
his sermon, mentioning how the late Catholicos His Holiness Sahag II
Khabayan had described this pilgrimage day as an opportunity to rise from
the Genocide and strengthen faith.
He pointed out that since the day His Holiness Sahag II put Holy Chrism in
the river of Antelias and baptized hundreds of Armenian orphans there, the
land of Antelias became holy, gave birth to new seeds that strengthened by
Saint Gregory the Illuminator dedicated themselves to the mission of the
Armenian Church and nation.
The “Shenorhali” Choir of the Catholicosate participated in the service
singing the Badarak.
Lead by His Holiness Aram I, the procession marched inside the Cathedral
because of the pouring rain outside. His Holiness gave blessings with the
Right Hand of St. Gregory the Illuminator and priests followed with other
relics and crosses blessing the believers who kissed the relics with great
faith.
A blessing of water with the holy Right Hand of St. Gregory the Illuminator
was then held on the altar of the Cathedral. His Holiness Aram I read a
special prayer for the healing of the sick and the strengthening of faith:
“From the Antelias Cathedral of the Catholicosate of Cilicia, we, the
pilgrim children, appeal to you St. Gregory, renowned pilgrim of our Great
God. Oh our Illuminator Father bless our entire nation in Armenia and the
Diaspora under the protection of your Holy Right Hand. Particularly bless
your faithful people gathered in the Antelias Cathedral. Erase our sins,
clean our spiritual and physical vices; grant health to all the sick;
enlighten the dark paths of our lives; enrich the lives of our nation’s
children, our families and our Big Family, your noble people with heavenly
kindness for the glory of the Armenian Orthodox Church and the eternal
existence of the Armenian nation.”
The Patron Saint’s Right Hand was then placed on the Cathedral’s altar,
where believers came to kiss it throughout the day.
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View photos here:
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ctures36.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
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.