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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.cathcil.org/
PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon
Armenian version: http://www.cathcil.org/v04/doc/Armenian.htm
THE REPRESENTATIVE OF HIS HOLINESS
ARAM I VISITS ETHIOPIA
Bishop Nareg Alemezian, Ecumenical Officer of the Catholicosate of Cilicia
joined the delegation of the World Council of Churches (WCC) in their
official visit to the Orthodox Church of Ethiopia on September 24-28. The
delegation of seven was headed by WCC General Secretary Rev Dr Samuel Kobia.
The Ethiopian Orthodox Church belongs to the family of Oriental Orthodox
Churches, which also includes the Armenian Apostolic Church with both its
Catholicosates.
During the past few years the Patriarch of the Ethiopian Church, His
Holiness Abouna Paolos has visited Antelias twice and consulted with His
Holiness on issues related to the Ethiopian community of Lebanon. Thanks to
His Holiness' efforts, the community will soon have its own church in
Lebanon.
The members of the delegation attended the Holy Mass held in the Adis Ababa
Church on September 25. Bishop Alemezian, however, visited the Armenian
community of Ethiopia during this time.
The bishop attended the Holy Mass held in the St. Kevork Church in Adis
Ababa and delivered a lecture entitled "Jesus, let your Holy Cross be our
shelter." He met with the pastor of the community, Rev Muron Sarkisian and
the faithful.
Bishop Nareg met with the Patriarch alone on Sunday evening, conveying him
the greetings of His Holiness Aram I and discussing cooperation between the
Armenian and Ethiopian Churches as well as issues related to the Oriental
Orthodox Churches.
The delegation visited the headquarters of the Ethiopian Evangelical Church,
a WCC member, the next day, as well as its theological university, where
Bishop Nareg delivered a lecture.
Taking into consideration the fact that in the Ethiopian community
Christians comprise a majority, while Muslims constitute a minority, the
Bishop outlined the importance of Christian-Muslim dialogue in light of the
rich Middle-Eastern and particularly the Lebanese experience.
The delegation attended the ceremony of the feast of Holy Cross, one of the
biggest feasts of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. The ceremony was held in
the central square of the Adis Ababa, where one million people gathered.
Patriarch Paolos invited Bishop Nareg to participate in the mass and light
with him the traditional cross-shaped fire.
On September 27 the delegation visited a boarding school which functions on
the patronage of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. The guests attended an
official dinner party organized by Patriarch Paoulos that evening.
The delegation held a meeting with the religious and lay senior officials of
the Ethiopian Orthodox Church in the headquarters of United Nations on
September 28. Rev Dr Samuel Kobia and Bishop Nareg delivered the main
lectures of the day.
Bishop Nareg spoke about the "participation of Orthodox Churches in the
ecumenical movement and their contribution to WCC." Both lecturers spoke
about His Holiness Aram I's decisive role in the ecumenical movement as an
example of active participation of the Orthodox Church.
The same evening the guests visited the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Ato
Meles Zenaoui. Discussions revolved around church-government relations and
WCC's projects in Africa.
Bishop Nareg returned to Antelias on September 29.
##
View pictures here:
http://www.cathcil.org/v04/doc/Photos/Pictures72.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.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.Fr. 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
THE REPRESENTATIVE OF HIS HOLINESS
ARAM I VISITS ETHIOPIA
Bishop Nareg Alemezian, Ecumenical Officer of the Catholicosate of Cilicia
joined the delegation of the World Council of Churches (WCC) in their
official visit to the Orthodox Church of Ethiopia on September 24-28. The
delegation of seven was headed by WCC General Secretary Rev Dr Samuel Kobia.
The Ethiopian Orthodox Church belongs to the family of Oriental Orthodox
Churches, which also includes the Armenian Apostolic Church with both its
Catholicosates.
During the past few years the Patriarch of the Ethiopian Church, His
Holiness Abouna Paolos has visited Antelias twice and consulted with His
Holiness on issues related to the Ethiopian community of Lebanon. Thanks to
His Holiness' efforts, the community will soon have its own church in
Lebanon.
The members of the delegation attended the Holy Mass held in the Adis Ababa
Church on September 25. Bishop Alemezian, however, visited the Armenian
community of Ethiopia during this time.
The bishop attended the Holy Mass held in the St. Kevork Church in Adis
Ababa and delivered a lecture entitled "Jesus, let your Holy Cross be our
shelter." He met with the pastor of the community, Rev Muron Sarkisian and
the faithful.
Bishop Nareg met with the Patriarch alone on Sunday evening, conveying him
the greetings of His Holiness Aram I and discussing cooperation between the
Armenian and Ethiopian Churches as well as issues related to the Oriental
Orthodox Churches.
The delegation visited the headquarters of the Ethiopian Evangelical Church,
a WCC member, the next day, as well as its theological university, where
Bishop Nareg delivered a lecture.
Taking into consideration the fact that in the Ethiopian community
Christians comprise a majority, while Muslims constitute a minority, the
Bishop outlined the importance of Christian-Muslim dialogue in light of the
rich Middle-Eastern and particularly the Lebanese experience.
The delegation attended the ceremony of the feast of Holy Cross, one of the
biggest feasts of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. The ceremony was held in
the central square of the Adis Ababa, where one million people gathered.
Patriarch Paolos invited Bishop Nareg to participate in the mass and light
with him the traditional cross-shaped fire.
On September 27 the delegation visited a boarding school which functions on
the patronage of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. The guests attended an
official dinner party organized by Patriarch Paoulos that evening.
The delegation held a meeting with the religious and lay senior officials of
the Ethiopian Orthodox Church in the headquarters of United Nations on
September 28. Rev Dr Samuel Kobia and Bishop Nareg delivered the main
lectures of the day.
Bishop Nareg spoke about the "participation of Orthodox Churches in the
ecumenical movement and their contribution to WCC." Both lecturers spoke
about His Holiness Aram I's decisive role in the ecumenical movement as an
example of active participation of the Orthodox Church.
The same evening the guests visited the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Ato
Meles Zenaoui. Discussions revolved around church-government relations and
WCC's projects in Africa.
Bishop Nareg returned to Antelias on September 29.
##
View pictures here:
http://www.cathcil.org/v04/doc/Photos/Pictures72.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.cathcil.org/ The Cilician Catholicosate, the
administrative center of the church is located in Antelias, Lebanon.