Under the presidency of His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Holy See of Cilicia, on Thursday, April 3, 2014, the General Assembly of the Catholicosate of Cilicia convened in Antelias, Lebanon, with the participation of Cilician Brotherhood members.
H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate, and Brotherhood members from our Prelacy are participating in the Assembly.
The Assembly officially began with the Pontiff’s message. The reading of reports followed, after which there was comprehensive analysis on the endeavors, programs, and overall mission of the Brotherhood. The Assembly also ratified the revised Brotherhood by-laws.
Through lectures and analyses, the Assembly will focus on studying the collective life of the Armenian people in the last hundred years, with an emphasis on notable events concerning the Holy See from the time of the Genocide to the present day. At the conclusion of proceedings, the Assembly will issue a statement regarding the Genocide, the situation of Syria’s Armenian community and specifically Kessab.
In advance of the General Assembly, on Tuesday, April 1st, His Holiness Aram I presided over a meeting with the Central Religious Council and Prelates. Reports were given on ecumenical and inter-religious relations, on the works of the Rituals and Canonization Committees, and other religious matters. His Holiness spoke on the Holy See’s efforts with regards to the Syria and specifically Kessab.
The meeting reported the following:
(1) The Blessing of Holy Chrism (Muron) on the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide will be conducted on Sunday, July 19, 2015, in front of the Genocide Memorial in Bikfaya.
(2) In commemoration of the Genocide centennial, a pilgrimage to Antelias will be organized from July 13-20, 2015.
(3) The urgency of continuing relief efforts for Syria and Kessab within all Prelacies was stressed.
(4) His Holiness announced that he has been invited as the keynote speaker at an inter-religious conference organized by the government of Bahrain in early May. In June, His Holiness will pay an official visit to Pope Francis.
On Saturday, April 5, on the Feast of St. Gregory’s Descent into the Pit, the opening of the new Brotherhood building at the Seminary in Bikfaya will be held, presided over by His Holiness and with the participation of Brotherhood members.
