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The
Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia
The spiritual heritage of the
Armenian Church and the historical memory of the Armenian
Catholicosate of Cilicia have shaped the mission of the
Catholicosate, which today embraces various dimensions and
spheres of the life of the Armenian people.
The
Armenian Diaspora
Throughout its history, and especially in difficult times, the
Catholicosate has been actively present in the religious,
educational, cultural and social life of the Armenian people.
After the 1915 Genocide, it contributed crucially to the
formation and organization of the Armenian Diaspora.
Theological
Formation
The Theological Seminary has
played a pivotal role in the witness of the Catholicosate. Many
teachers, married priests, monks, bishops and catholicoi have
graduated from the Seminary and have served the Armenian Church
and nation in an exemplary spirit of Christian dedication and
witness.
Diakonia/Social
Services
The Catholicosate has contributed
significantly to the development of social services. It has not
only encouraged social projects at the diocesan level, it has
also initiated important social projects, mainly in Lebanon,
Syria and Greece. It directly administered the Birds' Nest
Orphanage in Jbeil, the Sanatorium, the popular housing project
and the Old Peoples' Homes in Lebanon, Syria and Greece.
Cultural
Life
The Cathlicosate promotes Armenian spiritual and cultural values
as witnessed by its recent construction of a Museum and by its
well-stocked Library. Its publishing house, which produces
numerous titles every year, has established many important
bookfairs, conferences, seminars, cultural gatherings and
concerts.
Ecumenical
Relations
Since 1950's ecumenism has been a
major concern of the work of the Catholicosate. Its lay and
clergy representatives participate actively in the meetings and
conferences of the World Council of Churches (WCC). The
ecumenical engagement of the Catholicosate was given a more
organized form after 1962, when it became a member of this world
family of churches. During the General Assembly in Nairobi, in
1975, Bishop Karekin Sarkissian (the late Catholicos of
Etchmiadzin) was elected as a Vice-Moderator of the Central
Committee (a position he held until 1983). At the 7th General
Assembly in Canberra, in 1991, Archbishop Aram Keshishian (His
Holiness Aram I), became the first Orthodox, the first Middle
Easterner and the youngest person ever to be elected Moderator
of the Central and Executive Committees. His Holiness was
re-elected at the 8th Assembly of the World Council of Churches
in Harare, Zimbabwe, in 1998.
The
Armenian Cause
Itself a
victim of the Armenian Genocide, the Catholicosate was a key
player in bringing the Armenian Cause to the attention of the
world at large. It also worked to build its own people’s
awareness of the Genocide.
The
Middle Eastern Context
Having its headquarters in the
Arab world, the Catholicosate has participated fully in the
major events of this region. It has taken part in the struggle
for independence of the Arab countries, mainly in Lebanon and
Syria. It has strongly supported the Palestinian Cause and
worked for a just, comprehensive and permanent solution of the
Arab-Israeli conflict.
Being
a firm believer and defender of co-existence and dialogue, the
Catholicosate has taken part in all efforts aimed at creating
and strengthening a shared and harmonious common life among
religions, societies, cultures and civilizations in the Middle
East.
