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ANTELIAS: His Holiness Aram I's message on Christmas

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  • ANTELIAS: His Holiness Aram I's message on Christmas

    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

    Watch our latest videos on YouTube here:
    http://www.youtube.com/user/HolySeeOfCilicia

    'THE BIRTH OF JESUS OF BETHLEHEM IS THE CHRISTIAN MESSAGE OF LOVE, JUSTICE
    AND RECONCILIATION'

    HIS HOLINESS ARAM I

    On Thursday 6 January 2011, His Holiness Aram I celebrated the Christmas
    Liturgy at the Cathedral of St. Gregory the Illuminator in Antelias. The
    President of the Republic of Lebanon, H.E. Michel Sleiman and the Speaker of
    the House H.E. Nabih Berri were represented respectively by the Minister of
    State Jean Oghassabian and Member of Parliament Hagop Pakradouni.

    In his sermon, His Holiness Aram I said that the purpose of Incarnation was
    to proclaim the Kingdom of God based on the values of love, justice and
    reconciliation and make disciples to live out their faith based on these
    values. He then showed what would such a discipleship mean to the Church, to
    the Armenian people everywhere and particularly in Lebanon, and finally to
    Christian presence in the Middle East.

    "To be Church" he said "means to continue Christ's mission to establish the
    values of love, justice and reconciliation through its outreach." Addressing
    the Armenian people, he said: "We were the first nation to accept the
    message of Jesus in 301 AD. Throughout our history of persecutions we have
    remained truthful to our Christian faith. We shall continue our journey of
    faith based on love, justice and reconciliation wherever we are."

    Catholicos Aram I then addressed the people in Lebanon and said: "Lebanon
    is the country of co-existence, which means a life together based on
    commonly agreed values such as mutual love and respect, equality and
    justice. I thank the Almighty today that we do not have religious conflicts.
    However, we should overcome our political sensitivities for the sake of the
    sovereignty and integrity of Lebanon." He then continued, "all the
    confessional communities and political parties in this country are fully
    Lebanese. I am confident that their positions and claims aim at safeguarding
    Lebanon. We should not depend on the 'other', but work together to establish
    peaceful co-habitation in Lebanon because our primary allegiance goes to
    Lebanon."

    Referring to Christian presence in the Middle East, His Holiness Aram I
    said: "Christianity was born in the Middle East. Jesus was born in
    Palestine, and he began his public ministry in Palestine. Christianity
    spread out to the world from Jerusalem. Christians have made the history of
    the region and contributed to the creation of Middle Eastern Civilization
    through their faith, their thoughts and their martyrdom. We therefore,
    denounce all acts of violence against Christians and churches that are
    happening in Iraq, Egypt and other places. Irrespective of all difficulties,
    as people of the region, and based on the values of love, justice and
    reconciliation that Christ has shared, Christians will remain in the Middle
    East. Christian-Muslim relations are founded on shared values of love,
    justice and reconciliation; these relations are the product of thousands of
    years of life together. Therefore, Christians and Muslims will continue to
    seek together justice peace and prosperity in the region."

    During the next few days His Holiness Aram I received religious and
    political leaders, as well as representative of civil society organizations
    congratulating him on the occasion of Armenian Christmas.

    ##
    View the photos here:
    http://www.armenianorthodoxchurch.org/v04/doc/Photos/Photos527.htm
    http://www.armenianorthodoxchurch.org/v04/doc/Photos/Photos528.htm
    http://www.armenianorthodoxchurch.org/v04/doc/Photos/Photos529.htm
    http://www.armenianorthodoxchurch.org/v04/doc/Photos/Photos530.htm
    *****
    The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
    the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the history and
    the mission 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.




    From: A. Papazian
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