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PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web: http://www.armenianorthodoxchurch.org/
PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon
Armenian version: http://www.armenianorthodoxchurch.org/v04/doc/Arme nian.htm
"THE AUTHORITY OF THE CHURCH RESIDES IN ITS SERVICE"
SAYS HIS HOLINESS ARAM I
"The Church is not only an institution, a hierarchy, or a body of dogma and
rites. While the former are the Church's means of expressing itself, in its
true identity the Church is service. The founder of the Church, Jesus Christ
himself became the servant of humanity. In the words of the Gospel, He came
to the world not to be served, but to serve. Therefore, the source of the
church's strength and authority is service. Today more than ever the Church
should serve the multiple needs of humanity in the example of Jesus Christ,"
said His Holiness in his welcoming address to the representatives of the
Focolare Movement.
The Pontiff added: "The priorities and methods of the Church's service may
change and should change relative to time and changing circumstances.
However, the Church's primary calling should remain the same. The Focolare
Movement has given voice to the church's service and continues to do so."
His Holiness then spoke about the current stage of the ecumenical movement
and made several comments in this respect. He talked about the historic ties
between the Armenian and Catholic Churches and the activities of the
Catholicosate of Cilicia in ecumenical and inter-faith circles.
His Holiness also responded to a number of questions on the presence and
witness of Christianity in the Middle East, the Christian-Muslim dialogue
and the Ecumenical movement.
The Focolare Movement is one of the important movements of the Catholic
Church. The movement's representatives and its supporters organize annual
conferences around the world. This year, the movement's conference was held
in Lebanon. The delegation visiting His Holiness in Bikfaya included over 70
representatives, 38 of which were Bishops. The delegation was headed by the
Cardinal of the Czech Republic.
The Cardinal spoke at the start and the end of the meeting. He expressed his
joy at His Holiness' thorough knowledge of the Focolare Movement and its
late President Ms. Chiara Lubich. The Cardinal also expressed his deep
appreciation for His Holiness' great contribution to the ecumenical movement
and the advancement of cooperation between churches.
##
Photos here:
http://www.armenianorthodoxchurch.org/v04/do c/Photos/Photos312.htm
http://www.armenianorthodox church.org/v04/doc/Photos/Photos313.htm
*****
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.
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web: http://www.armenianorthodoxchurch.org/
PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon
Armenian version: http://www.armenianorthodoxchurch.org/v04/doc/Arme nian.htm
"THE AUTHORITY OF THE CHURCH RESIDES IN ITS SERVICE"
SAYS HIS HOLINESS ARAM I
"The Church is not only an institution, a hierarchy, or a body of dogma and
rites. While the former are the Church's means of expressing itself, in its
true identity the Church is service. The founder of the Church, Jesus Christ
himself became the servant of humanity. In the words of the Gospel, He came
to the world not to be served, but to serve. Therefore, the source of the
church's strength and authority is service. Today more than ever the Church
should serve the multiple needs of humanity in the example of Jesus Christ,"
said His Holiness in his welcoming address to the representatives of the
Focolare Movement.
The Pontiff added: "The priorities and methods of the Church's service may
change and should change relative to time and changing circumstances.
However, the Church's primary calling should remain the same. The Focolare
Movement has given voice to the church's service and continues to do so."
His Holiness then spoke about the current stage of the ecumenical movement
and made several comments in this respect. He talked about the historic ties
between the Armenian and Catholic Churches and the activities of the
Catholicosate of Cilicia in ecumenical and inter-faith circles.
His Holiness also responded to a number of questions on the presence and
witness of Christianity in the Middle East, the Christian-Muslim dialogue
and the Ecumenical movement.
The Focolare Movement is one of the important movements of the Catholic
Church. The movement's representatives and its supporters organize annual
conferences around the world. This year, the movement's conference was held
in Lebanon. The delegation visiting His Holiness in Bikfaya included over 70
representatives, 38 of which were Bishops. The delegation was headed by the
Cardinal of the Czech Republic.
The Cardinal spoke at the start and the end of the meeting. He expressed his
joy at His Holiness' thorough knowledge of the Focolare Movement and its
late President Ms. Chiara Lubich. The Cardinal also expressed his deep
appreciation for His Holiness' great contribution to the ecumenical movement
and the advancement of cooperation between churches.
##
Photos here:
http://www.armenianorthodoxchurch.org/v04/do c/Photos/Photos312.htm
http://www.armenianorthodox church.org/v04/doc/Photos/Photos313.htm
*****
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.