Syriac Orthodox Patriarchate – 21/10/16
Lebanon: His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II receives their Eminences Mor Gregorius Joseph, Metropolitan of Cochin and Mor Aphrem Matthews, Assistant Metropolitan of Angamali, in the presence of His Eminence Mor Justinus Boulos Safar, Patriarchal Vicar in Zahleh and Beqaa, at the Patriarchal Residence in Atchaneh, Lebanon.
His Holiness discussed with their Eminences matters concerning our Church in India.
Patriarchate of Anthioch & All East – November 2016
The president of the Lebanese Republic general Michel Aoun meets with His Beatitude John X accompanied by a delegation of orthodox metropolitans Nov. 4 – 2016
His Excellency the president of the Lebanese Republic general Michel Aoun received in the presidential palace at 11 o’clock a.m. at Beabda, His Beatitude John X the patriarch of Antioch and all the East with a delegation of archbishops , including: – His Eminence Elias Aude (of Beirut and dependencies). – His Eminence Elias Kfoury (of Saida, Tyre and dependencies). – His Eminence Basilios Mansour (of Akkar and dependencies).
After the meeting, His Beatitude John X gave the following statement:
“We have paid a visit to His Excellency the president of the Lebanese Republic general Michel Aoun in the name of the Antiochian Church with some orthodox brother metropolitans, to congratulate him on his being elected the president of the Lebanese Republic, and on the return of life to the presidential palace. We pray that the Lord may grant him health and power to lead the beloved Lebanon to peace and prosperity with all those working with him.
We, with all the Lebanese people, are looking forward to seeing a new page in Lebanon that is facing crises and difficulties of different kinds, political and economical as well that reach up to all the Lebanese people even in their daily food. We also pray for the Lebanese people to stay in homeland.
We hope that the Lebanese government will be soon constituted so as to see all the constitutional institutions functioning properly for the good of the country.
Our prayer and hope are to see a new workshop in which all efforts from all the spectra of the Lebanese society cooperate and work together for the good of Lebanon and the Lebanese.
ArmenianOrthodoxChurch.org – November 2016
In his reflections at the opening session of the bilateral theological dialogue between the Oriental Orthodox Churches and the World Anglican Communion, at the Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia, in Antelias, Lebanon, His Holiness Aram I described the present ecumenical landscape as one of “stagnation and uncertainty”. In his judgment “the continuous efforts of the recent decades aimed at the reconfiguration and transformation of the ecumenical movement simply have failed”. He said that ecumenism is not a mere relations among the churches; it is essentially a growing fellowship towards the visible unity”. Therefore, according to Aram I, “If the churches do not re-own the ecumenical movement, the latter will lose its fellowship character, and the visible unity as its ultimate goal, and it will be reduced to an NGO. The signs of such trends are already noticeable in many regions “, said Aram I.
His Holiness stressed the crucial importance of a credible ecumenism that will “challenge the sorts of approaches and developments that may jeopardize its very nature and the goal” A credible ecumenism, for His Holiness “must have a clear vision that should sustain and guide its reflections and actions; must respond to the concrete realities of its environments; must appropriate the concerns and expectations of the churches; and must become people-centered and people-oriented, empowered by the Holy Spirit”.
Aram I, who has been for two terms the Moderator of the Central and Executive Committees of the World Council of Churches (1991–2006), warned that “activism without spirituality will endanger the very nature of the ecumenical movement; reflection without collaboration will make ecumenism a mere intellectual exercise; and consensus without reception-oriented process will remain a sheer document on the shelves of the ecumenical institutions”.
On the background of this analytical look at the present state of the ecumenical movement, His Holiness emphasized the pivotal importance of bilateral theological dialogues. He said that it is important “to maintain a creative interaction and complimentarity between multilateral and bilateral dialogues”. As to the agenda of bilateral dialogues, in his view, “Bilateral dialogue not only should focus on the divisive doctrinal theological issues, but it should also deepen the commonalities as a solid bases for the visible unity of the church”. Reminding the Commission that bilateral theological dialogues have almost become repetitive, Catholicos Aram I challenged the churches to go beyond the traditional agenda to treat issues pertaining to socio-ethical sphere, since, “such matters have become more divisive in intra-church and inter-church relations”. His Holiness also stressed the need of “engaging the churches in reception process by leading them from divergence to convergence”. Such an approach, in his view, “will make bilateral theological dialogues relevant, reliable and credible”.
ArmenianOrthodoxChurch.org – 14/11/16
11 November 2016. On Friday morning the scheduled meeting between the Pope and the Catholicos was held at the Papal office in the Vatican.
After sharing greetings, Catholicos Aram I expressed his great appreciation for the Pope’s two pronouncements on the Armenian Genocide of 1915 as the first genocide of the 20th century, which he had made in 2015 at the Vatican and in 2016 in Yerevan. His Holiness Pope Francis reiterated his conviction on this matter.
Speaking of the conflicts in the Middle East and the current problems of the churches, Aram I said that the churches had endured difficulties at the cost of martyrdom for centuries, and, yet presently, they remain committed to their vocation. He then thanked Pope Francis and the Vatican for defending the rights of Christians in the Middle East and for supporting efforts towards Christian-Muslim cooperation and conviviality. Pope Francis welcoming the Catholicos’ reminder, stressed, in his turn, the vital importance
of the Christian presence in the Middle East and assured of the continuing solidarity of the Vatican to this effect. In this context, the two Pontiffs emphasized the need to continue, with renewed pace, interreligious dialogue and collaboration in general, and Christian-Muslim in particular, to face together concerns and challenges of modern societies.
His Holiness Aram I speaking about the importance of the unity of the church, pointed out that establishing a common date for Easter would be a visible expression of Christian unity. The Holy Father reminded Aram I that during the last few decades the Catholic Church has given special attention to this matter and welcomes any efforts aimed at fixing a common date, which could be acceptable by all the churches.
Aram I shared with Pope Francis the good news that eventually Lebanon had a new president in the person of Gen. Michel Aoun. The Pope warmly greeted the election of a president, considering it an important step towards deepening the Christian-Muslim cohabitation in Lebanon.
Referring to the historical relations between the Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia and the Vatican, which dates back to the time of the Armenian Kingdom in Cilicia, His Holiness Aram I reaffirmed his commitment to continue bilateral relation and collaboration with the Vatican. At the end of their meeting, both Pontiffs reemphasized the decisive importance of taking the church to the people through the kind of initiatives, which make the church a living and relevant reality in the life of the people.
ArmenianOrthodoxChurch.org – November 2016
18 November 2016. On Friday morning, His Holiness Aram I received Bishop Harald Rein and Professor Ours Phone Arks of the “Old Catholic Church” in Switzerland.
During the meeting His Holiness Aram I brought them up to date on the conflict in the region and its impact on Lebanon and the Christian presence in the Middle East. He also talked about the Catholicosate of Cilicia, its history, its contribution to interfaith and ecumenical relations and its role and mission in Armenian Diaspora communities. The Catholicos and his guests also discussed the relations of the Armenian Church with the Churches and people of Switzerland, especially during the Armenian Genocide in 1915, when Swiss missionaries and volunteers went to Turkey to help, and then helped the orphans settle in Lebanon.
The Old Catholic churches (or Union of Utrecht of the Old Catholic Churches) separated from the Roman Catholic Church in 1871 over the question of papal authority. The Ecumenical Officer, Very Rev. Housig Mardirossian, was also present at the meeting.
Anthiochian Patriarchate – 23/11/16
His Beatitude John X the Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and the entire East emphasizes the national role of the Orthodox Antiochian church.
Balamand Nov. 20- 2016
His Beatitude John X the Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch emphasized the national role of the Orthodox Antiochian church and her richness with talents, various capabilities and potentials.
The words of His Beatitude the patriarch John X were given in the sermon which he gave during the Divine Liturgy he presided at Balamand accompanied by the Rev. priests and deacons with the faithful (from different parishes).
After explaining the meanings of the gospel read today, His Beatitude emphasized the fact that Man is entrusted to the whole creation with everything in it which has to be used for the good of Man and his neighbor without egoism or selfishness.
Then His Beatitude discussed the general situation in the region and said:
“We congratulate our children on ‘the independence day’ in Lebanon which we are going to celebrate after tomorrow. We are really glad to celebrate this anniversary this year with His Excellency the Lebanese elected president general Michel Aoun, whose election returned life to the constitutional institutions in Lebanon, and allowed great promises to the Lebanese people through which they are going to have better future where the Lebanese will live without economical, social, developmental, and environmental hard pressure under which all the people have undergone for years, so that they can feel adopted and loved by their homeland (Lebanon), and stop dreaming of immigration as the new president had expressed in the presidential statement.
We thank Mr. Tammam Salam the prime minister for his wise guidance and leadership during the hard circumstances that Lebanon had been through.
We also bless Mr. Saad Alhariri the Prime Minister-designate hoping that he will soon come to the formation of the government in which we witness the active national partnership that will help the words of the presidential statement come true and the orthodox sect will be represented by active and qualified ministers who can express the orthodox conscience.
In this regard the spiritual and political backgrounds must have a basic role in choosing these ministers, especially since the orthodox community has proven for a long time to be rich with different capabilities and potentials, and her children proved too to be loyal and sincere to Lebanon and to the Lebanese people with their causes and issues.
We are going to watch this procession and take good care of it. We will also remain basic partners in the construction of the citizen- state, and will secure the healthy political milieu for the sake of better contribution to the service of the country and all its children”.
ArmenianOrthodoxChurch.org – November-December 2016
20 November 2016. Celebrations began on Sunday with special Liturgy held at the St Nichan Cathedral in Beirut. Archbishop Shahé Panossian, the Prelate celebrating the Holy Liturgy accompanied by the Choir of the National Academy of Armenia conducted by Maestro Hovhannes Chekijian.
The Ambassador of Armenian to Lebanon, Samuel Meguerditchian, Represetatives of all Armenian political parties, Armenian members of the Lebanese Parliament, representative of Armenian civil society and the community attended the liturgy.
Before inviting the Catholiocs to preach the Sermon of the day, the Archbishop reminded the people of the inspiring leadership and the scope of service of the Catholicos. His Holiness said that the axis of Jesus Christ’s vocation was service, which the Catholicosate of Cilicia continues to fulfil. He then invited the community as one of the main seven communities in Lebanon to assume its role and serve the nation.
The liturgy ended with songs of praise and the Cilicia anthem and then the people moved to the main Hall of the Diocese for speeches by different representatives.
Syriac Orthodox Patriarchate – 8/12/16
His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II received Rev. Fr. Michel Jalkh, General Secretary of the Middle East Council of Churches, at the Patriarchal Residence in Atchaneh, Lebanon.
The meeting was attended by Very Rev. Raban Joseph Bali, Patriarchal Secretary and Media Office Director.
During the meeting, Rev. Fr. Jalkh reported to His Holiness on the participation of the Syriac Orthodox Church at the events and conferences organized by the MECC. He also discussed some issues related to the role of MECC in the recent events in the Middle East, as well as the upcoming meeting of the executive committee of the Council.
His Holiness gave his directions and advice to the general secretary in regard to the issues that are common to all churches in the Middle East, especially in Iraq, Syria and Lebanon.
www.religiousfreedomcoalition.org – 10/12/16
On August 6, 2014, the Islamic State overran Iraq’s largest Christian city, the city of Qaraqosh. The advance forced thousands of Christians to leave the city after it had been the target of jihadist attacks for weeks.
One month before, the Islamic State took over the city of Mosul and many Christian residents from Mosul fled to Qaraqosh after ISIS issued an ultimatum for Christians living there: convert to Islam, pay a fine or face “death by the sword.”
Qaraqosh, a historic Assyrian town, was once home to 50,000 people. Once year after ISIS captured the city, there were no Christians left living there. The churches in the town were used “as prisons for torture” and any Christians left in the town were “forced to convert to Islam. ISIS have been breaking al the crosses and statues of Mary,” according to Abu Aasi, a man who fled Baghdad.
Related: Timeline of ISIS in Iraq
Related: Attacks on Assyrians in Syria By ISIS
In March of 2015, a 10-year-old girl from the city of Qaraqosh, named Myriam, said she would ask God to forgive those who threatened her family’s life.
Many Christians and other religious minorities who left Qaraqosh, Mosul and the Nineveh Plain in 2014 fled to neighboring countries including Jordan and Lebanon. Many of these Christians were, and still are, too afraid to go to UN run refugee camps because they fear they will be targeted by Muslim refugees there. They risk death threats, attacks, beatings and women and young children risk being raped.
In late October 2016, the Iraqi Army, with help from the Kurdish Army and a Christian Militia known as the Nineveh Plains Protection Unit retook the cities of Qaraqosh, Bartella, and Karamless while on their way to retake the city of Mosul from the control of the Islamic State. On October 30, a handful of Christians, including members of the Nineveh Plain Protection Units, the local Christian militia, came together in a burnt out church in Qaraqosh to celebrate the first mass in the town in over two years.
For over a decade, the Religious Freedom Coalition has remained steadfast in supporting aid programs to Christian refugees that were forced to flee their homes in Iraq. The programs we supported included assisting a medical clinic in Amman, Jordan that helped Iraqi Christian refugees. Chairman William J. Murry has done his best to make sure that every dollar donated counted, that there was no waste and that 100% of the aid went to Christians.
In 2013, the Religious Freedom Coalition started the Christmas for Refugees program. The mission of the Christmas program was to bring spiritual help, as well as food and medicine, to Christian refugee families who were ignored by Islamic-led charities.
Many of the children who attend the Christmas program have fathers and brothers who have been murdered in cold blood by jihadists from al-Nusra and the Islamic State. In some cases, they have been forced to watch the deaths.
These children grew up in middle and upper-middle class families, living in nice homes. Their parents had good jobs and many of the children attended private Christian schools. Now these children are living day-to-day in the basements of abandoned buildings.
Christmas events including hot meals were served to Christian refugee children in Jordan, Iraq and Lebanon. Christmas for Refugees is much more than one hot meal at Christmas. The hours-long program includes Gospel themed plays and puppet shows along with games and traditional Christmas songs. Each child takes home a gift box for their family, which includes essential items like toothbrushes, toothpaste, hand soap, tissues, sponges, feminine hygiene items as well as dish and laundry soaps.
In 2016, the Christmas for Refugees program will invite as many as 6,000 children between the ages of six and fourteen to come and celebrate the birth of Christ.
In 2015, the largest Christmas party for the children in Iraq, alone, was 300 children. This year, the Christmas parties in Iraq are being moved to a conference hall in Erbil, Iraq and over 500 children and 70 volunteers will be bused to the location at each program. Meals are prepared by a catering company because of how large these events are. Programs will also be held in Lebanon and Jordan as they were the year before. The Christmas for Refugees program provides a general outline as to how funds should be used in each country; however, the guidelines are not strict, since national cultures differ.
Christmas for Refugees is more than one hot meal at Christmas. For a few hours on Christmas Day, Christian refugee children have a warm, bright place to stay and some relief from the difficult situations they face on a daily basis.
Syriac Orthodox Patriarchate – 16/3/17
His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II inaugurated the sessions of the extraordinary Holy Synod held in Lebanon.
The Fathers, Members of the Holy Synod, attended the sessions and studied the matters of importance for the good of the Holy Church.
Church of Serbia – 29/4/17
We are grateful to God for this blessed day, when we celebrated once again our 101st Annual Church Patronal Feast Day Celebration (Slava).
It was a special event not just for our Parishioners, who worked very hard to make this day a success, but for all our guests who came to join us and participated in our Parish celebration. Most of all we are grateful to God and His Grace, our Bishop Irinej who came and served the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy followed by the Festal Procession around the temple and Cutting of the Festal Bread (Slavski Kolach).
The Church temple was too “small” to gather everyone, but being with our Archpastor and listening to his profound sermon on the Sunday of St. Thomas (Antipascha, the first Sunday after Resurrection) almost everyone who was in the Church received the Holy Communion from the hands of our Bishop. We where blessed to announce and congratulate our brother in Christ, Timothy Pantelich, who was tonsured by His Grace Irinej, before the beginning of the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy into the first clerical rank as a reader (chtec).
After the church service, a special feast was prepared by the host (kum) Mr. Robert Saylor of our Parish. Our youngest choir members sung the Resurrection Troparion before the blessing of the food, while during the dinner our Parish Priest, Fr. Borjan Vitanov, and the President of the Church Board, Mr. Joseph Rahalewich, offered a few words of gratitude. At the end of the feast, Bishop Irinej also addressed the people in our Church Hall and officially handed the Grammaton, (official episcopal document) for tonsure into the Order of Reader to Timothy Pantelich. Through the prayers of His Grace, our Bishop Irinej, we hope our parish will continue to grow and we are looking forward to many years of similar joyous celebrations. Na Mnogaja Ljeta!”
ArmenianOrthodoxChurch.org – 9/5/17
On Saturday 29 April 2017, His Holiness Aram I hosted and presided over a one-day consultation to discuss the reconstruction and revitalization of the Armenian community in Syria.
The consultation brought together clergy and laity representing the Armenian community in Syria, as well as representatives of Armenian humanitarian organizations who have responded to Catholicos Aram I’s previous appeals for aid to Armenians in Syria. After welcoming everyone, the Catholicos stated that it is time to plan for the post-conflict phase in Syria. Citing the words of the Apostle, “If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honoured, all rejoice together with it” (1 Corinth. 12:26), the Catholicos proposed the following steps for implementation:
The first and foremost step in the revitalization of community life, he said, is to reconstruct the community buildings that have been destroyed. The second step is to rebuild the economic wellbeing of the community, with a special focus on families in need. Then, he said, we must set priorities and prepare a plan of action. Finally, in view of the existing sanctions against Syria, we must identify skills and qualified personnel and ensure transparency and accountability.
Catholicos Aram I proposed the following timetable:
Preparation of project folders, May-July 2017.
Discussion and screening by a representative and specialized group, August 2017, in Lebanon. The group should comprise the government of Armenia, diocesan organizations, diaspora organizations and potential donors.
His Holiness proposed the establishment of a committee to supervise the implementation of reconstruction projects and provide loans to small businesses. Catholicos Aram I proposed the creation of an office in Aleppo to oversee the proper implementation of the plan of action. He concluded by thanking the spiritual and civil society leadership of the Armenian community in Syria for their resolve and emphasized the importance of a unified action by all Armenians.
ArmenianOrthodoxChurch.org – 22/5/17
On Tuesday 17 May 2017 in the morning, His Holiness Aram I met with the Emir at the Royal Palace. He was accompanied by Very Reverend Massis Choboyan, Prelate of Kuwait and the neighbouring countries, and HE Maher Kheir, Ambassador of Lebanon in Kuwait.
After the official welcome, His Holiness thanked the Emir for being attentive to the Armenian Community in Kuwait. The Catholicos expressed his joy that the community has been able to finish the construction of its Church and Prelacy, despite financial difficulties. He said, “Facilitating the construction of Churches in our region nowadays indicates the level of tolerance of Kuwait towards its resident Christians.” He spoke of the growing political and economic relations between Kuwait and Lebanon and emphasized the importance of Kuwaiti citizens spending their holidays in the mountains of Lebanon.
Expressing his brotherly love, the Emir recalled the visit of His Holiness Aram I to Kuwait six years ago and praised his outstanding contribution to interfaith dialogue. His Excellency also praised the Armenian community for its loyalty to the country. Speaking of Lebanon, the Emir expressed his hope that the situation in the country would continue to improve. Finally, he promised His Holiness that he would make a donation towards the cost of the construction of both the Church and the Prelacy.
At the end of the visit, the Very Reverend Massis thanked the Emir on behalf of the Armenian Community, and Ambassador Maher Kheir expressed his appreciation for the growing relationship between the two countries.
ArmenianOrthodoxChurch.org – July -August 2017
27 July 2017. On Thursday evening, His Holiness Aram I honoured Armenian youth who have recently graduated from universities in Lebanon with a dinner at St Mary’s Monastery in Bikfaya.
The Armenian Church University Students Association (ACUSA), and the Assembly of University Graduates, both of which are sponsored by the Catholicosate of Cilicia, organized the evening. Hagop Handian, Chairperson of the Assembly, welcomed the graduates and invited them to share their questions and concerns with His Holiness Aram I before dinner.
After a lively discussion, Catholicos Aram I exhorted the graduates to think creatively and strive to expand the horizons of the Armenian community by becoming active members of the community and using their education for its benefit. His Holiness concluded by saying, “We need qualified and creative youth to organize and energize our communities. The Catholicosate of Cilicia and its Dioceses will accompany and support you in your endeavours.”
Photo: RIA-Novosti
Orthodoxchristian.com – 16/9/17
Ma’loula, Syria – The Ma’loula church complex, looted by Islamic militants, is being restored at an accelerated speed. One of the churches is expected to be ready for parishioners in the near future, RIA-Novosti reports.
“The most difficult was restoring the cave of St. Thekla. It suffered greatly, as did the Church of St. Elias. The specialists faced the difficult task of preserving the historical artifacts. However, some of the architectural monuments had to be built anew, because they were lost,” engineer Elias Hilal told reporters.
Ma’loula was seized by Al-Nusra Front militants four years ago. “They destroyed everything they could. They gouged out the eyes of Christian saints. Those icons which they thought they could sell abroad—to smuggle into Lebanon, whose border is only a few miles from Ma’loula—were stolen. New ones, just recently painted by the nuns of St. Thekla Monastery, were simply ripped from the walls, piled in the middle of the church, doused with gasoline, and set on fire. They were expecting to burn the icons and the church itself in one stroke,” Fr. Elias of the Church of St. Elias stated.
Ma’loula is a small town located in a picturesque valley 30 miles north of Damascus. It is one of the few places in the world that still speaks Aramaic, the language of Jesus Christ.
The church complex of Ma’loula includes the Monastery of St. Sergius, the Monastery of St. Thekla, and also the Church of St. Elias, which is nearly ready to hold services again.
Restoration work on the church complex was accelerated thanks to the establishment of a de-escalation zone in Syria. The ceasefire, the observance of which is controlled by Russian military police, has allowed for materials to be delivered to the site at an accelerated pace.
ArmenianOrthodoxChurch.org – November 2017
The Middle East has been the birth place of three monotheistic religions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam. It has also been the homeland of so many cultures, ethnicities and civilizations. These diversities that have characterized the history of the region have often generated tensions, polarizations and conflicts. Religion sometime has been used for non-religious purposes. The affirmation of ethnicity has caused estrangement, and religious extremism has, in its turn, became a major factor in provoking persecution, massacres and wars.
A realistic assessment of the present landscape of the Middle East will not display a different image of the region. In fact, the forceful resurgence of religious extremism, the growing fear of disintegration, and the increasing penetration of global powers in the regional politics, and in addition to these major concerns, the question of refugees and internally displaced persons with their socio-economic implications have furthered destabilized the region. Hence, one may safely assert that the Middle East is actually at the most crucial juncture of its modern history.
As religious and political leaders we have a common role to play. We are challenged to be proactive. Let me briefly identify five areas of common concern which require common action and firm commitment by religious leaders.-
1) Protecting life
Monotheistic religions believe that life both in its rational and non-rational expressions is given by God. Hence, life is sacred, human being has no right to misuse and abuse it, and to take one’s life. Such an act is a sin against God. We must protect the sacredness, integrity and wholeness of life. This is a God-given vocation that must be realized with the sense of responsibility and accountability. We must promote a culture of life against culture of death.
2) Affirming diversity
Diversity is a God-given reality; it is a significant feature of creation and human life. Therefore, diversity is a source of enrichment and progress. We must enhance and safeguard the diversity. We must accept and respect the way we are. Diversity becomes a source of evil when it is transformed to adversity, intolerance and rejection of the other. We must accept the otherness of the other. Exclusive way of thinking and acting generates conflicts. We must develop inclusive and holistic approach in our teachings, practices and ways of life that embrace the wholeness of life in all its diversities. Living in pluralistic societies, we are called to transform our diversities to coherent and reconciled diversities, and co-existence to a community sustained by common values.
3) Rejecting extremism
Extremism is another form of evil. Religions have different self-understanding, self-realization and self-expressions. The monotheistic religions have common roots, common teachings and common values; at the same time they have different approaches and perspectives in respect to issues and challenges facing humanity. A religion may claim that it possesses the truth and hence affirm its legitimacy. But it has no right to impose its values on the others, exploit the religious beliefs for ideological and political ends, and even kill people in the name of God. Any religion will never accept such an evil practice. Therefore, we must join our forces to reject extremism in all its dimensions and manifestations that strongly impact the modern societies. We must promote a culture of tolerance, mutual respect and peaceful co-habitation.
4) Overcoming violence
Violence in all its forms and expressions has become a dominant feature of contemporary societies. It impacts all spheres and layers of community. In becoming a global evil, violence has taken on a new dimension and urgency. Violence is also built into systems of governance and has become integral to various structures and ideologies, policies and practices as an instrument to maintain privilege and control. This culture of violence dehumanizes people, shakes the very foundation of a society and destroys the creation. We can overcome this life-threatening evil by community building. We are bound to each other within a community. We are responsible for and accountable to each other. Living as a community will keep away all sorts of violence. We can overcome this global evil also through education. Family and school play a crucial role in moral formation. Therefore religions and governments should make education a top priority.
5) Striving for peace with justice
Peace is not the absence of war; it is essentially the harmonious relations, creative interaction, mutual understanding and respect based on common values, principles and aspirations. Peace is above all a common life sustained and protected by justice. Wherever rights are smashed by might, wherever equality is ignored and participation is neglected, peace becomes shaky. According to the teachings of monotheistic religions, peace is a gift of God. We must safeguard it with care and responsibility; we must work for it by promoting justice. This is, indeed, our common calling
ARAM I
CATHOLICOS OF CILICIA
29 October 2017
Antelias, Lebanon
ArmenianOrthodoxChurch.org – 6/12/17
Antelias, Lebanon- Under the presidency of His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Holy See of Cilicia, the World National General Assembly convened at the Armenian Catholicoate in Antelias, Lebanon with the participation of around 130 clergy, lay delegates, and invited guests representing the prelacies of the Holy See of Cilicia across the world. The assembly, which gathers every four years, and its delegates will meet for four days for an in-depth examination and evaluation of the activities of the Catholicosate, discuss the concerns and challenges of its churches and people, and establish directives for Prelacies to enact in the coming years. The meeting will conclude on December 8.
The main agenda item of the morning session was the address of His Holiness Aram I. His Holiness urged delegates to focus on ways to strengthen and grow the Armenian Church as a place where one can carry out its faithful Godly mission and serve the Armenian nation and its people. His Holiness stressed that the church has to go beyond its walls, think in different, and work in new ways to strengthen its mission. Along those words, His Holiness highlighted five areas of priority concern that require careful attention and continued development, which are Spiritual and Moral Values, Religious Upbringing and Service, Youth Participation in the daily life of the church, Armenian Cause and Diaspora.
In his address, His Holiness Aram I stated that by strengthening the spiritual and moral values of our people, incorporating the beliefs and rituals of Christian life in our daily lives become promising. Speaking about the youth, His Holiness stressed that youth involvement in the Armenian church is important because the will being, priority and future of the Armenian Church is dependent on our agenda to include and encourage youth to be active participants. He underlined that we have to truly listen to them, understand their expectations and needs, expand our ways of thinking and working, and be inclusive of their thoughts and suggestions.
One of the important agenda items of the Armenian church is the continued representation of the demands and rights of the Armenian people and nation. Two years ago, the Armenian nation marked the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide and the same year the Holy See of Cilicia took the bold action and filed a lawsuit demanding the return of its seat in Sis. This unprecedented action garnered world attention. Despite careful work and attention on this matter, the case finds itself at a difficult political crossroads. However, regardless of the difficulties, the Armenian Church continues its efforts for the demands of the rights of the Armenian people.
Finally, His Holiness stated that strengthening the development of the growing Diaspora is imperative. Last July, the Catholicosate convened a special meeting to review the concerns and needs of the Diaspora and Armenian Identity and open the channels for the renewed engagement in Armenian life.
In his conclusion, His Holiness made special note that 2018 will make the 100th anniversary of the First Republic Armenia. The Holy See of Cilicia will commemorate this occasion by convening a conference in Antelias, Lebanon scheduled for March 2018.
The Assembly continued its first day of business by reviewing and responding to the Religious and Lay Councils reports.
Syriac Orthodox Patriarchate – 17/12/17
His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II participated in the Christian-Islamic Summit at the Maronite Patriarchate Headquarters in Bkerke upon the invitation of His Eminence Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros Al-Rai, Maronite Patriarch of Antioch and All the East. The Summit aimed at declaring a united position following the US President Donald Trump’s decision to move the Embassy of US from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, and declaring Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
The meeting was also attended by their Holinesses, Beatitudes and Excellencies: Patriarch Aram I, Armenian Orthodox Catholicos of Great See of Cilicia, Mor Ignatius Youssef III Younan, Syriac Catholic Patriarch of Antioch, Coptic Catholic Patriarch of Alexandria, Gregory Bedros XX Gabroyan, Joseph Absi, Greek Catholic Melkite Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, His Eminence Archbishop Antonius Al-Souri representing His Beatitude John X, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, His Grace Bishop Cesar Essayan, Vi
car Apostolic of Beirut, Rev. Dr. Selim Sehiouni, Head of the High Evangelical Synod of Syria and Lebanon, Rev. Fr. Ruwais Al-Ourashalimi, Priest of the Coptic Orthodox Church in Lebanon, as well as their Excellencies: Grand Mufti of Lebanon Sheikh Abdul Latif Derian, Vice-Speaker of the Supreme Lebanese Shia Parliament, Sheikh Abdul Amir Qabalan, and Druze Highest Sheikh al-Aql Naim Hassan.
His Holiness was accompanied by His Eminence Mor Severius Hawa, Metropolitan of Baghdad and Basra, and Very Rev. Raban Joseph Bali, Patriarchal Secretary and Media Office Director.
Following their meeting, their Holinesses, Beatitudes, and Excellencies issued a statement in which they expressed their shock at this decision. They hoped that the international community would stress the American president to change his mind; especially that it contravenes international laws which recognize Jerusalem as a spiritual city. They expressed their fear that this decision might lead to the violation of other international laws. The meeting also considered that this decision offenses Jerusalem which is a spiritual city for Jewish, Christian and Islamic religions.
The participants also expressed their support for Lebanese President Michel Aoun in his proposal to the United Nations to declare Lebanon as an international center for dialogue among people of different religions and cultures.
House Before Construction
House After Completion
Tufekian Foundation– December 2017 -January 2018
Stepanakert: A Lebanese-Armenian family – Vahe Askaryan and his four children – who resettled in Artsakh in 2015, celebrated housewarming today in the Ishkhanadzor Village of the Kashatagh region. The house has been built by the Tufenkian Foundation in the framework of its Resettlement of Kashatagh initiative. Among other efforts, the project provides housing support to Armenians relocating to Kashatagh from Syria and Lebanon.
Kashatagh Administration Chief of Staff Davit Davtyan, Tufenkian Foundation Executive Director Raffi Doudaklian, as well as representatives of the Artsakh Ministry of Healthcare, Berdzor Hospital and the Ishkhanadzor community attended the opening event.
Kashatagh (formerly Lachin) is the vital land-bridge connecting Artsakh to Armenia, making them effectively one. This liberated region guarantees Karabakh’s existence and has strategic significance for the peace and security of Armenians everywhere. After 70 years of Azerbaijani rule, the historic Armenian province was liberated during the Karabakh war and is now being actively resettled. However, while Kashatagh offers new life, the region suffered immensely from the war and has been facing a housing and infrastructure crisis ever since.
To address this, the Tufenkian Foundation began a pilot project in 2008 to renovate existing houses in Kashatagh’s villages. During 2008-2010, more than 40 renovation works were performed by dedicated work brigades, under TF’s supervision. Since 2010, TF has continued with house renovation, but focusing more on special needs – provision of housing support to Armenian families from Syria and Lebanon who resettle in Kashatagh.
Vahe Askaryan is the second re-settler from the Middle East to receive a home from the Tufenkian Foundation during 2017. In early June, the family of Haig Khatcho, a Syrian-Armenian doctor who escaped ISIS persecution and resettled in Artsakh a couple of years ago, celebrated housewarming in the same village.
To provide a new home to Vahe’s family, the Tufenkian Foundation turned some of the war-torn ruins of Ishkhanadzor into a large and safe house. The construction efforts were carried out by local workers from Kashatagh and lasted over 5 months.
Addressing the guests at the ceremony, Vahe Askaryan said “Relocating to Artsakh, this ancestral home of all Armenians, is the best decision I could make for my family. I am happy to experience such generous support by my compatriots and promise to dedicate all my abilities for the prosperity of Artsakh”.
Vahe is a skilled farmer with experience in greenhouse cultivation. To support the family while they start a new life in Artsakh, the Tufenkian Foundation has provided Vahe with a greenhouse. Upon effective utilization, the greenhouse can not only ensure the subsistence of Vahe’s family, but also create employment opportunities for others in Iskhanadzor.
In parallel to building a house for Vahe and his family, the Tufenkian Foundation has renovated the primary clinic of Iskhanadzor. Built by TF in 2006, the clinic serves 16 villages in Kashatagh and is an important part of the local infrastructure.
Rebuilding, resettling and developing Kashatagh is an important part of the Tufenkian Foundation’s work in Artsakh and will be carried on throughout the foreseeable future.
About the Tufenkian Foundation
The Foundation was launched in 1999 by entrepreneur James Tufenkian with the mission to empower the initiatives of local citizens, support the most vulnerable strata of the society, promote environmental protection and awareness, and advance social justice in Armenia. Since 2003, the Foundation has broadened its scope to embattled Nagorno-Karabagh, where it promotes resettlement and development projects in the vulnerable border zones of the region.
facebook.com/TufenkianFoundation
Photo: Blagovest-Info
Orthochristian.com – 19/6/18
The Russian military active in Syria has handed delivered humanitarian aid to the much-suffering Convent of the Nativity of the Mother of God of Saidnaya near Damascus, reports Blagovest-Info.
As Abbess Febronia Nabkhan explained to journalists, thanks to the aid, there are currently summer courses in English and French being offered for the children of the monastery’s orphanage. They also study the Bible and play games and sports. The high school students are preparing for their exams.
The abbess also noted that during the conflict with Muslim terrorists, the territory around the monastery was bombed from the north, although lessons continued. The inhabitants of the neighboring village contributed in every way to the maintenance of the monastery, bringing food and helping financially.
“We were bombed from Lebanon. We were studying, and the school is located right on the street. We were hit three times, but, thank God, there were no casualties. God saves us, and the church saves us. We all saw fire burning all around,” Mother Febronia explained.
“The convent is surrounded by Muslim villages from all sides, and there are many fanatics there. But the Most Holy Theotokos is protecting us, the nuns and the laity feel her invisible presence and are not going to leave their dwellings,” Bishop Constantine (Kayal) of Zabadani stressed in 2015, explaining the dire situation the monastery was facing at that time.
