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Western Prelacy: US Senators Boxer and Feinstein Welcome HH Aram I

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  • Western Prelacy: US Senators Boxer and Feinstein Welcome HH Aram I

    PRESS RELEASE
    Western Prelacy
    of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America
    Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian
    Prelate, Western United States
    6252 Honolulu Avenue
    La Crescenta, CA 91214
    Tel: (818) 248-7737
    Fax: (818) 248-7745
    Email: [email protected]

    For more information:
    Zanku Armenian (818) 243-3557
    Mercata Group


    (Los Angeles, Calif. - September 30, 2005) Two floor statements were made in
    the U.S. Senate this week by Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Diane
    Feinstein (D-CA) welcoming His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great
    House Of Cilicia, to California for his upcoming October visit. Below are
    the texts of their statements:


    IN CELEBRATION OF THE PONTIFICAL VISIT OF HIS HOLINESS ARAM I, CATHOLICOS OF
    THE GREAT HOUSE OF CILICIA, TO CALIFORNIA

    Mrs. Boxer. Mr. President, I take this opportunity to recognize the
    Pontifical Visit of His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of
    Cilicia, to my home state of California in October, 2005.

    The Catholicos represents the Great House of Cilicia, an historic Armenian
    religious center established in 1441. The Catholicosate was relocated to
    Antelias, Lebanon following the atrocities of the Armenian Genocide, which
    included destruction of houses of worship in Cilicia. Today, His Holiness
    Aram I represents hundreds of thousands of Armenian American Christians, as
    well as Armenians across the Near East. The Armenian faith is 1700 years
    old and it is significant that Armenia was the first nation to officially
    adopt Christianity as a state religion in 301 AD.

    The Catholicos' spiritual, cultural and educational influence extends well
    beyond the Armenian people. His Holiness Aram I, who holds a Master of
    Divinity, a Master of Sacred Theology, a Ph.D., and several honorary
    degrees, has authored numerous articles and texts in Armenian, English and
    French, some of which have been translated into other languages. The
    Catholicos has worked to strengthen interfaith relations between Christian
    and Muslim communities. In 1974, the Catholicos was one of the founding
    members of the Middle East Council of Churches.

    His Holiness Aram I was elected as Moderator of the Central and Executive
    Committees of the World Council of Churches (WCC), a renowned organization
    which represents over 400 million Christians worldwide. The WCC brings
    together over 340 churches and denominations in more than 100 countries
    throughout the world. The Catholicos is the first Orthodox, first Middle
    Easterner and youngest person to hold this position and his unanimous
    re-election as Moderator in 1998 was exceptional in the history of the WCC.

    During his trip to California, which is titled "Towards the Light of
    Knowledge," the Catholicos will visit churches as well as educational and
    cultural institutions in Los Angeles, Fresno and San Francisco. This
    momentous visit was initiated by His Eminence, Archbishop Moushegh
    Mardirossian of the Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of
    America to commemorate the 90th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide and the
    1600th Anniversary of the creation of the Armenian alphabet.

    I am honored to recognize this milestone visit to California by a
    distinguished Armenian and world leader. I wish both the Catholicos and the
    Armenian community in California a renewed sense of purpose and inspiration
    from this visit.

    Thank you. I yield the floor.


    PONTIFICAL VISIT OF HIS HOLINESS ARAM I -- (Senate - September 27, 2005)

    Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I am pleased to join the Armenian American
    community in welcoming the upcoming Pontifical visit of His Holiness Aram I,
    Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia. The Pontiff will be visiting the
    State of California this October at the invitation of His Eminence,
    Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian of the Western Prelacy of the Armenian
    Apostolic Church of America.

    His Holiness is one of the most prominent Christian leaders in the Middle
    East and a spiritual leader for hundreds of thousands of Armenians around
    the world. The Pontiff presently serves as the Moderator for the World
    Council of Churches which is comprised of more than 340 churches from
    different cultures and countries around the world representing over 400
    million Christians. Currently serving his second term, His Holiness is the
    first Orthodox and the youngest person to be elevated to Moderator.

    The theme of the Pontiff's visit is ``Towards the Light of Knowledge.'' This
    theme reflects the Pontiff's faith that only with greater education and
    dialogue can the world's conflicts be addressed properly.

    I take this opportunity to not only thank The Pontiff for his time and
    worthy endeavors in California, but also thank the sizable Armenian
    community which has been actively contributing to the California culture and
    economy since 1878. California cities of Los Angeles and Glendale are home
    to the second and third largest populations of Armenians outside of Armenia
    and are important members of their communities serving as business leaders
    and city council members.

    From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
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