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PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Father Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: http://www.cathcil.org/
PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon
Armenian version: http://www.cathcil.org/v04/doc/Armenian.htm
SAI NT VARTANANTS CELEBRATED IN ANTELIAS
"THE CHRISTIAN FAITH IS NOT A MERE CREED
BUT A QUALITY OF LIFE", HIS HOLINESS ARAM I
One of the most important Armenian national holidays, St. Vartanants, was
celebrated in Antelias on February 15 with a Holy Liturgy in Saint Gregory
the Illuminator Cathedral and a ceremony in the Hall of the Veharan, where
the faithful gathered to listen to His Holiness.
Bishop Nareg Alemezian, who celebrated the Mass, stressed three points in
his sermon for reassessing the importance of Vartanants in modern times.
"First, the life of Christians gains meaning with the belief in the eternal.
We are destined to inherit a very important heritage. Our glory is in being
with God forever. Second, even though each persecution is a temptation, it
also is an experience of becoming stronger with God. Third, Christianity is
the reflection of collective faith and belonging in all aspects of life:
belonging to God and belonging to the Church, which is to the family of
faith," said Bishop Alemezian.
The procession of the Cilician Brotherhood members and Seminary students
then moved to the Veharan, where they performed songs dedicated to
Vartanants; songs about the glory of martyrdom, ultimate sacrifice and the
primacy of faith; songs that have educated generations and continue to shape
their resilience.
In his message the Pontiff said: "The Vartanants battle is not a mere event
that happened in 451 AD on the banks of the Deghmoud River in Avarayr. The
Vartanants battle is a living reminder of the crucial importance of the
Christian faith in our life."
The Catholicos then emphasized two main points: "First, Christian faith has
become one with our nation's life. It is not an individual phenomenon; it
must be articulated to the life of community. When the enemy pointed its
knife towards Christian faith, the whole nation stood up for resistance. The
western self-centered and individualistic approach to Christian faith, which
has also started to take roots in our lives, does not correspond to the true
concept of Christian faith and to our historical experience. Vartan and his
followers clearly showed the unbreakable unity of faith and nation."
"Second, Christian faith is not a form, a costume or a creed; it is a
quality of life and a committed struggle for the Kingdom of God. When in 451
AD Christian Churches were fighting over the form of faith in Chalcedon, the
Armenians were spilling their blood for the survival of that faith.
Christianity has been in essence a life for our nation and should remain
that way forever," he continued.
His Holiness concluded that it is with such an understanding of faith and
firm commitment that the Armenian Church, should continue its struggle of
faith against new day threats and challenges. The ceremony ended with the
"Cilicia" song.
The same day, Holy Mass was held in all the Armenian Churches and special
ceremonies were held in all the Armenian schools.
#
View the photos here: http://www.cathcil.org/v04/doc/Photos/Photos59.htm
*****
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the history and
mission of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of the
Catholicosate, http://www.cathcil.org/ The Cilician Catholicosate, the
administrative center of the church is located in Antelias, Lebanon.
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Father Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: http://www.cathcil.org/
PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon
Armenian version: http://www.cathcil.org/v04/doc/Armenian.htm
SAI NT VARTANANTS CELEBRATED IN ANTELIAS
"THE CHRISTIAN FAITH IS NOT A MERE CREED
BUT A QUALITY OF LIFE", HIS HOLINESS ARAM I
One of the most important Armenian national holidays, St. Vartanants, was
celebrated in Antelias on February 15 with a Holy Liturgy in Saint Gregory
the Illuminator Cathedral and a ceremony in the Hall of the Veharan, where
the faithful gathered to listen to His Holiness.
Bishop Nareg Alemezian, who celebrated the Mass, stressed three points in
his sermon for reassessing the importance of Vartanants in modern times.
"First, the life of Christians gains meaning with the belief in the eternal.
We are destined to inherit a very important heritage. Our glory is in being
with God forever. Second, even though each persecution is a temptation, it
also is an experience of becoming stronger with God. Third, Christianity is
the reflection of collective faith and belonging in all aspects of life:
belonging to God and belonging to the Church, which is to the family of
faith," said Bishop Alemezian.
The procession of the Cilician Brotherhood members and Seminary students
then moved to the Veharan, where they performed songs dedicated to
Vartanants; songs about the glory of martyrdom, ultimate sacrifice and the
primacy of faith; songs that have educated generations and continue to shape
their resilience.
In his message the Pontiff said: "The Vartanants battle is not a mere event
that happened in 451 AD on the banks of the Deghmoud River in Avarayr. The
Vartanants battle is a living reminder of the crucial importance of the
Christian faith in our life."
The Catholicos then emphasized two main points: "First, Christian faith has
become one with our nation's life. It is not an individual phenomenon; it
must be articulated to the life of community. When the enemy pointed its
knife towards Christian faith, the whole nation stood up for resistance. The
western self-centered and individualistic approach to Christian faith, which
has also started to take roots in our lives, does not correspond to the true
concept of Christian faith and to our historical experience. Vartan and his
followers clearly showed the unbreakable unity of faith and nation."
"Second, Christian faith is not a form, a costume or a creed; it is a
quality of life and a committed struggle for the Kingdom of God. When in 451
AD Christian Churches were fighting over the form of faith in Chalcedon, the
Armenians were spilling their blood for the survival of that faith.
Christianity has been in essence a life for our nation and should remain
that way forever," he continued.
His Holiness concluded that it is with such an understanding of faith and
firm commitment that the Armenian Church, should continue its struggle of
faith against new day threats and challenges. The ceremony ended with the
"Cilicia" song.
The same day, Holy Mass was held in all the Armenian Churches and special
ceremonies were held in all the Armenian schools.
#
View the photos here: http://www.cathcil.org/v04/doc/Photos/Photos59.htm
*****
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the history and
mission of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of the
Catholicosate, http://www.cathcil.org/ The Cilician Catholicosate, the
administrative center of the church is located in Antelias, Lebanon.