His Holiness Catholicos Aram I’s pontifical visit has concluded. While he has left the country, the impact of his visit is just beginning. The visit of a Catholicos to the faithful of a region is an emotional and spiritually uplifting experience. The faithful yearn for the blessing of their spiritual father knowing that these opportunities are limited. Generally we are a respectful people whose values connect us to a deep love for our elders. To observe Armenian children with their parents and
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It is quite rare that we have an extraordinary multitalented cleric such as His Holiness Aram I. He has written numerous books in many languages on the Armenian Church, theology, philosophy and ecumenical relations. He was for many decades the leader of the World Council of Churches and the Middle Eastern Christian associations. He has the ability to meet with people at virtually every level and establish an engaging dialogue. We are blessed and fortunate to have his leadership these many years as a priest, cleric, teacher, writer, ecumenist and church leader. The Holy See of Cilicia is a fertile cradle in the creation of exemplary clergy, His Holiness Karekin Hovsepiantz (a participant at the Battle of Sardarabad) His Holiness Zareh Payaslian, who expanded the prelacies of the Holy See, and His Holiness Karekin Sarkissian, who along with His Holiness Mugerdich Khrimian served as the preeminent Catholicoi of the 20th Century.
History is running its course and sweeping away the one-time political rivalries that once pitted one segment of the Armenian Apostolic church to the other. I believe the Cilician See, the Greater House of the Catholicosate of Sis, is living the true measure of its longevity as the institution that embodies the spiritual Western Armenia in the Diaspora. The Pontiff from Antelias should be embraced «regardless of what parish you are affiliated with.»