His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia, Will Visit Canada Print E-mail

Canada - His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia, will begin his Pontifical visit to Canada in Montreal with a meeting with the community at the Sourp Hagop Armenian Apostolic Cathedral on Thursday, June 17, 2010 at 7:30pm.

 

The key public appointments during His Holiness Catholicos Aram I’s Pontifical visit to Montreal and Laval are:

 

    • “Nor Dsaghig” Children Choir concert - Sourp Hagop Armenian Apostolic Cathedral -Friday, June 18 - 7:30pm
    • Youth/Student Gathering with His Holiness - Montreal Armenian Community Centre - Friday, June 18 - 9:00pm to 10:00pm
    • Meeting lunch with the community’s religious leaders - Saturday, June 18 - Noon
    • Meeting with Armenian organizations - Armenian Community Centre - Saturday, June 19 - 8:30pm to 10:30pm
    • Divine Liturgy - Bon Pasteur Catholic Church in Laval - Sunday, June 20 - 11:00am

From June 21-23, His Holiness will participate at the Religious Leaders Summit of the G8 Nations to be held in Winnipeg.

 

From June 24-27, His Holiness will be visiting Toronto, where the G20 meeting of world leaders will be taking place. During his stay, His Holiness will be meeting with politicians, diplomats, and religious leaders.

 


The key public appointments during His Holiness Catholicos Aram I’s Pontifical visit to Toronto are:

    • Meeting with the Toronto community - St. Mary Armenian Apostolic Church - Thursday, June 24 - 8:00pm
    • Brunch with Politicians and Religious Leaders - Armenian Community Centre of Toronto - Friday June 25 - 10:30am to 12:00pm
    • Meeting with the leaders of the Southern Ontario Armenian Community - Armenian Community Centre of Toronto - Friday June 25 - 4:00pm to 6:30pm
    • Youth/Student Gathering and Dinner with His Holiness - Armenian Community Centre of  Toronto - Friday June 25 - 7:30pm to 10:30pm
    • Meeting with the Armenian community of Toronto’s religious and political leaders as well as the representative of various Armenian organizations - Armenian Community Centre of Toronto - Saturday, June 26 - 10:30am to 12:30pm
    • Official Unveiling of the Georgetown Armenian Boys' Farmhouse as a designated historic and protected site - Georgetown, Ontario - Saturday, June 26 - 2:00pm
    • Official Banquet -  On the Park Banquet Hall - Saturday, June 26 - 7:30pm to 10:30pm
    • Divine Liturgy - St. Mary Armenian Apostolic Church - Sunday June 27 - 11:00am


Born in 1947, in Beirut, Lebanon, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I studied at the Armenian Theological Seminary in Antelias, and the Ecumenical Institute of Bossey in Geneva, Switzerland, before receiving his M.Div. from the Near East School of Theology. He received jointly his S.T.M. from the American University of Beirut and the Near East School of Theology.

 

His Holiness later obtained his PhD from Fordham University in New York and also holds several honorary degrees. His major areas of specialization are philosophy, systematic theology, and Near Eastern church history.

 

Catholicos Aram I was ordained a celibate priest in 1968, and obtained the title of Vartabed (Doctor of the Armenian Church) in 1970. In 1979, after serving as Locum Tenens for one year, He was elected Primate of the Armenian Orthodox Community in Lebanon and received his Episcopal ordination the following year.

 

In 1975, he was elected as a member of the Faith and Order Commission of the WCC, and in 1983 as a member of its Standing Committee. At the Vancouver Assembly (1983), His Holiness was elected as a member of the Central Committee of the WCC.

 

At the Canberra Assembly (1991), he was elected Moderator of the Central and Executive Committees of the WCC, the highest position of this global fellowship of churches, which comprises more than 350 churches from different confessions, cultures, nations and regions. He is the first Orthodox and the youngest person to be elected to the position of Moderator. After serving as Moderator for seven years, His Holiness was unanimously re-elected at the Harare Assembly (1998). The re-election of His Holiness, which was based on his "strong leadership, firm commitment, theological knowledge and administrative experience", was unprecedented in the history of the WCC.

 

In June 1995, His Holiness was elected Catholicos (Head of the Church) by the Electoral Assembly of the Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia (35 clergy and 115 lay representatives), and was consecrated a week later.

 

Since his enthronement, His Holiness has reorganized and revitalized the work of the Church, particularly in the areas of theological and Christian education, has increased the number of publications, has improved communication with other churches and religious leaders, has augmented the scope of cultural activities, and promoted peace and justice, and human rights internationally.

 

For further information on dates and locations, please contact Dania Ohanian at 514-856-1200 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
» Tuesday, 08 June 2010 10:03

 

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