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ANTELIAS: Christmas Liturgy in Antelias

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  • ANTELIAS: Christmas Liturgy in Antelias

    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

    "WITH THE INCARNATION, WE RECEIVED THE COMMANDMENT OF LOVE AS THE NEW LAW"

    Said His Holiness Aram I in his Christmas Sermon

    On Tuesday 6 January 2009, Armenians all over the world celebrated
    Christmas, the Holy Feast of the Incarnation and Epiphany. His Holiness Aram
    I celebrated the Holy Liturgy at St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral in
    Antelias in the presence of Lebanese Government officials, community leaders
    and a large number of believers.

    In his sermon His Holiness invited the believers to respond to the message
    of renewal and love transmitted through the Birth of Jesus. He said that the
    commandment of love as the new law was given to us with the Incarnation. He
    then asked: "How do we live and express the love that came to us from Heaven
    through the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem? How close do we feel we are to God?
    The only way to discover whether God is in us is to love one another. As the
    Apostle said, whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love
    (1 John 4:7-11). Do we consider ourselves children of God? We should because
    through Nativity God showed his love to all of humanity."

    He then linked the message of the new commandment of love to the situation
    in Lebanon and the Middle East. He hoped that the national reconciliation
    process based on a dialogue of love would lead to radical solutions of the
    political problems in the country. He also appealed to the political leaders
    to serve the people with love and deep commitment and alleviate their social
    and economic difficulties. Finally, he called upon the international
    community to stop the bloodshed in Gaza , care for the innocent victims and
    find a permanent solution to the Palestinian question.

    After the Liturgy and on the following day, His Holiness Aram I received
    Lebanese Government Officials, representatives of Diplomatic Corps and
    Leaders of the Armenian Community in Lebanon, who came to convey their good
    wishes on the occasion of Armenian Christmas.

    ##
    View the photos here:
    http://www.armenianorthodoxchurch.org/v04/doc/Pho tos/Photos353.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.
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