On Tuesday, October 29, 2019, the Catholicosate of Cilicia Central Executive convened its plenary session presided by His Holiness Catholicos Aram I.
H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate, participated in the Central Religious and Joint Council sessions, while Central Lay Council member Vahe Yacoubian participated in the Lay and Joint Council sessions.
RELIGIOUS COUNCIL
The Religious Council met on Tuesday, October 29, and discussed the following topics: Christian education, ecumenical and inter-faith relations, youth, summer youth academy, clergy preparation, Seminary, communication department, HASK publication, socio-ethical issues, Bible translation, Pontifical thanksgiving prayer and prayers for the Republic, rituals, collaboration with the Armenian Catholic and Evangelical Churches, 25th anniversary of the election and enthronement of His Holiness, as well as concerns and suggestions presented by Prelacies.
During and after discussions on each of the aforementioned topics, His Holiness conveyed his thoughts and gave direction, in particular stressing the following points:
1) Special focus must be given to the Christian education and social services provided by the Church. This work must be carried out within our Prelacies with an utmost sense of responsibility and taking into consideration local needs and conditions.
2) The dissemination of our Church’s spiritual values to the people is a pressing priority. It is imperative to give new impetus and scope to this endeavor, taking advantage of available and effective technological means.
3) The youth remains one of our greatest concerns. We must not be content with organizing conferences, seminars, pilgrimages, and so on. It is vital to have dialogue with the youth and to hear their concerns. We must approach the youth rather than wait for them to approach our Church.
4) Our current clergy order does not fully correspond with the expectations and needs of the people. Thus, we must expand the work that is carried out in this regard to prepare a new generation of clergymen who are not only knowledgeable but also conscious of the current state and challenges of our people and ready to serve with devotion.
LAY COUNCIL
The Lay Council met on Wednesday, October 30, and discussed the following topics: Construction projects, economic situation, Fanar residences, Jbeil project, “New Cilicia” village in Artsakh, matters relating to Prelacies, Catholicosate institutions.
JOINT COUNCIL
The joint meeting of the Religious and Lay Council took place on Thursday, October 31, during which the following topics were discussed: Reorganization of Prelacies, rebuilding of the Syrian-Armenian community, Catholicosate of Sis lawsuit, collaboration with the Holy See of Echmiadzin as well as with Armenia and Artsakh, and the 25th anniversary of the enthronement of His Holiness.
His Holiness imparted extensive details and conveyed his thoughts on each of the aforementioned topics, and in his closing message stressed the following:
1) As the Church belongs to the people, for the people is the Church, so too does the Catholicosate belong to the people, and this understanding is what drives our service. Our work, our abilities as well as our shortcomings are all transparent. Our fundamental purpose is serving the people, and we expect each of our Prelacies to serve in this same manner led by their respective Prelates.
2) The Diaspora is currently in a disordered state. The reexamining of the state of the Diaspora is imperative as the basis and guide for its reorganization and strengthening. Catholicosate Prelacies play a pivotal role in this regard and must approach this matter with utmost gravity.
3) Our collaboration with Armenia and Artsakh naturally has been and remains one of our priorities. Here the role of the Diaspora, however, is not just to offer input, rather to actively contribute to endeavors aimed at the blossoming, prospering, and advancement of Armenia and Artsakh. The Diaspora must approach Armenia and Artsakh with this conviction and they, in return, must approach the Diaspora in this manner.
4) The proliferation of our spiritual values to our people through Christian education and social services is vital. The Church is not an edifice or an administrative center; it is, in its essence, a God-given mission directed at the people. Our Church, through its clergy, must go and serve the people with this awareness of its calling.