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ANTELIAS: "Ecumenism needs clear orientation and focus", HH Aram I

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  • ANTELIAS: "Ecumenism needs clear orientation and focus", HH Aram I

    PRESS RELEASE
    Catholicosate of Cilicia
    Communication and Information Department
    Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Director
    Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
    Fax: (04) 419724
    E- mail: [email protected]
    Web: http://www.ArmenianOrthodoxChurch.org/

    PO Box 70 317
    Antelias-Lebanon

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    http://www.youtube.com/user/HolySeeOfCilicia

    "ECUMENISM NEEDS CLEAR ORIENTATION AND FOCUS"
    HIS HOLINESS ARAM I

    "Depicting the present state of the ecumenical movement in terms of crisis
    has become a general trend; I do not share this approach" stated His
    Holiness Aram I. He said that "seeking new vision, redefining its
    orientation, revising its agenda, restructuring its programmatic priorities
    are integral to the very nature of the ecumenical movement". Catholicos
    Aram, who has served 15 years a Moderator of the World Council of Churches,
    reminded that "with ecumenism we are dealing with movement, not institution,
    with vision not programme, with fellowship, not with management". Hence,
    according to Aram I reducing the ecumenical movement to its institutional
    expression will be the end of it.

    Aram I believes that the ecumenical movement must remain "restless, in
    permanent crisis, seeking new ways of articling its vision". However, for
    Aram I the ecumenical movement is actually "disoriented, its focus is not
    clear and its raison d'être has become shaky. Here is the problem". In his
    view this situation is largely due to "non-committal ecumenism of the
    churches, as well as the shift of interest from church unity related issues
    to moral-ethical matters, inter-religious dialogue and confessional
    ecumenism".

    His Holiness stressed the need for a "credible, relevant, reliable and
    responsive ecumenism, an ecumenism with which the churches can identify
    themselves". Aram I said that the discussion on the reconfiguration of the
    ecumenical movement that the WCC started must continue with the active
    participation of the churches.

    These views of Aram I were shared with a few reporters at the end of the
    meeting of the International Joint Commission for Theological Dialogue
    between the Catholic Church and the Oriental Orthodox Charities which was
    held at the Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia, Antelias, Lebanon, from 27-30
    January 2010.

    ##
    The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
    the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the Ecumenical
    activities of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
    the Catholicosate, http://www.ArmenianOrthodoxChurch.org The Cilician
    Catholicosate, the administrative center of the church is located in
    Antelias, Lebanon.
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