Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia welcomed in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin

Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, 19 September, 2011: In the evening of September 18, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, welcomed His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia to Armenia in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. His Holiness Aram I, is visiting to participate in the events dedicated to the 20th anniversary of the Independence of Armenia, with the Catholicos of All Armenians.

At the airport, Catholicos Aram I was met by His Eminence Archbishop Grigoris Buniatian, Primate of the Armenian Diocese of the Ukraine, His Eminence Archbishop Komitas Ohanian from the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia, as well as by the Members of the Brotherhood of the Mother See: His Grace Bishop Nathan Hovhannisian, His Grace Bishop Artak Tigranian, Rev. Fr. Mushegh Babayan and Rev. Fr. Mkhitar Grigorian.

Under the ringing of the bells of the Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin, the Catholicos of All Armenians and the Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia were led to the Mother Cathedral from the Pontifical Residence, where a Prayer of Thanks was offered in front of the Holy Altar of Descent.

In his remarks, His Holiness Karekin II welcomed Catholicos Aram I and the members of the Brotherhood of the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia, “The occasion for your visit is beautiful: you have come to participate in the events dedicated to the 20th anniversary of independence of the Republic of Armenia. In honor of this milestone, we will participate in the events and extend our message and guidance to our faithful sons and daughters, encouraging them in their love towards the Homeland, so that they will continue their service with dedication and commitment for the welfare and prosperity of our nation”. Reflecting on the independence of the Homeland His Holiness stated in part, “Our Church has always nourished the spirit and idea of freedom to our offspring, and preserved the aspiration of Armenian statehood. We extend our glory to God that today it has become a reality, and that our Church stands on the foundation of that achievement. Today we, along with you, testify with our presence, that the Holy Armenian Apostolic Church will continue to assist the Homeland with Her works and endeavors, benefiting the welfare of our nation, as well as the Armenian offspring worldwide, in the efforts of creating a blessed, God-pleasing and prosperous life”.

The Catholicos of All Armenians expressed his wish that the Lord keep the Pontiff Aram I in good health, and grant him success in all his endeavors for the welfare and prosperity of national life and the Holy Armenian Apostolic Church.

His Holiness Aram I Catholicos of Cilicia expressed his feelings on his visit to the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and the meeting.

“Each time I am on Armenian soil, in the mystery of Holy Etchmiadzin, not only do I relive Armenian history but also restore myself in my Christian faith, in my national experience. So should it be for each Armenian, especially clergy dedicated to the spiritual service of the Armenian Church”, Aram I Catholicos stated in part. Reflecting on 20th Anniversary of Armenian Independence the Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia stated that the Armenian Church with Her work and commitment has brought Her contributions to the birth of Armenian independence and for its strengthening, as well as for the welfare of the Armenian nation. “We have never been passive, never within the margin of our life, but our Church has always existed, acted and served on an important page in the life of our nation and Homeland. Our Church has served with great devotion, deep faith and thorough commitment. Indeed, today we must renew our participation in the strengthening of our Homeland Armenia, and in the prosperity of our Church.”

Pontiff Aram I stated his wish that God keep the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin unshaken, granting success to the Church-building activities and vibrancy of the Holy Armenian Apostolic Church.

The welcoming service ended with blessings and the Lord’s Prayer by the Catholicos of All Armenians and the Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia.


Information Services

Court dismisses Rebel Jacobite plea for ownership

Kochi, 20 September 2011: A petition by the Rebel Jacobite Syrian Christian Church (dissident Patriarchal group) seeking status quo of rights at the disputed church in Kolenchery was Tuesday 20th September 2011 denied by the Kerala High Court.

A Division Bench comprising Justice Thottathil B Radhakrishnan and Justice C T Ravikumar denied to stay implementation of the earlier court order which was in favour of the Orthodox Syrian Church.

A tense situation has been prevailing in Kolenchery between the Rebel Jacobite Syrian Christian Church and Orthodox Syrian Church fighting for the ownership of St Peters' and St Paul's church.

The new petition was filed after two rounds of negotiation to get the two feuding factions compromise failed.

During the court hearing, the government pleaded that both the parties have to maintain law and order and the orders issued by the court should ensure that.

The court held that maintenance of law and order is a matter of the executive and only in exceptional circumstances it becomes necessary for judicial compulsion to ensure it.

Earlier, negotiations by the district administration and court-appointed mediators failed to bring a resolution in the matter with the Orthodox church pushing for an early implementation of the court order.

Trouble erupted last week after a recent court order handed over complete control of the church to the Orthodox church.

An interim order declared by the Church Court in December 2007 had declared that Sunday masses at the disputed church should be conducted in a ratio of 2:1 favoring the Orthodox church.

Courtasy: Babu Thomas, In.christian today.com

Kolencherry Church Issue - His Holiness Baselios Paulose II calls off hunger strike

KOLENCHERY, Kerala (India): The Orthodox Church of the East had called off its protest on Sunday18th September night with Catholicos of the East His Holiness Baselios Paulose II calling off his eight-day fast at Kolencherry.

“We backed out from open protest considering the request of the District Collector. He has given us a written assurance that the issue would be solved in two weeks, if not the court order would be executed,” said Fr Johns Abraham Konat, priest trustee of Orthodox Church. Following this, His Holiness Baselios Marthoma Paulose II , the head of Orthodox Syrian Church of the East, concluded his fasting late on Sunday.

“The Synod Council and Managing Committee of the church will meet on Wednesday and Thursday respectively. The meeting of these high level committees will take a decision on the future course of action,” said E C Elias, secretary, Orthodox Syrian church.

The supreme head of the Orthodox Church, H H Baselios Marthoma Paulose II was on an indefinite fast since Sunday Sept. 10 evening, demanding execution of the court order which allows the Orthodox Church to have the ownership of the Sts. Peter and Paul Church, Kolencherry, and the Kottoor chapel under it.

Peaceful end
 

Mediations and requests by Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy helped in alleviating the deteriorating situation in Kolencherry. Oommen Chandy, on Sunday18th September sought 15 days time from the Orthodox Church and parallel Jacobite Syrian Christian Church (Dissident Patriarchal faction) to solve the dispute over ownership of the Sts. Peter and Paul Church, Kolencherry, and the Kottoor chapel under it at Kolencherry in Ernakulam district. Honb’le Chief Minister Oommen Chandy made the appeal after marathon meetings with the representatives of the parallel Jacobite Syrian Christian Church and Orthodox Church. Earlier Chandy had held discussions with union government ministers of India Vayalar Ravi, K V Thomas and district administration and senior police officers. If within two weeks a solution is not in sight, court orders would be implemented, he said. Chandy also urged the supreme Catholicos of the Orthodox Church and Regional Catholicos of parallel Jacobite Syrian Christian Church group to end their agitations.

A meeting of the action council of the Orthodox Church, which is demanding implementation of the district court order, at Kolenchery on Sunday18th September night has decided to accept Chief Minister’s request. Following this, His Holiness Baselios Marthoma Paulose II, the head of Orthodox Syrian Church, and H.E. Dr. Mathews Mar Severios Metropolitan(Kandanad East) concluded their fasting late on Sunday. Both of them decided to end the fasting by 11.30 p. m. on Sunday 18th September by receiving karikinvellam from H.E. Thomas Mar Athanasius Metropolitan (Chengannur) and H. E. Dr. Thomas Mar Athanasios Metropolitan (Kandanad East), the president of the core committee which was entrusted to lead the Upavasa Prarthana Yagnam (fasting prayer sacrificing program). Chief Minister Oommen Chandy gave leadership to the discussions which finally culminated in the ending of the fasting. The decision came after His Holiness received a written assurance from the side of the Government that the Court order will be implemented after 15 days.

A last attempt will be made during these 15 days to solve the issue amicably. If no result comes out from these discussions, the Government will implement the court verdict. This decision of the government was written and signed by the Ernakulam District Collector for the Government of Kerala. The Orthodox Church received the document by 11 p.m. which was scrutinized by their advocate Sreekumar and the bishops of the church present at Kolenchery. After getting the consent of all, H. H. declared that H. H. is ending the fasting.

Recent court verdict and an indefinite fast

The St Peter’s and St Paul’s Church, which remained closed for several years, was opened in 2010 following the Ernakulam district court intervention. The district court in December 2, 2010, released the key to Fr. Jacob Kurian, a priest belonging to the Orthodox Church and granted permission to the two factions to conduct service. The Orthodox Church was conducting the services for two consecutive weeks and the parallel Jacobite faction for the third week. This arrangement was prevailing as on August 16, 2011 when their suit was dismissed.

On August 16th 2011 the district court handed control of the parish to Orthodox church rejecting all pleas and false claims from parallel Jacobite side and declared the parish is an integral part of Malanakara Orthodox Syrian church and shall be governed under the Church constitution passed in 1934. The parish comes under the Kandanad West diocese. On August 16th His Eminence Dr. Mathews Mar Severious, the Metropolitan of Kandanad west celebrated Holy service peacefully in the parish.

The trouble began on Saturday 9th September with the parallel Jacobite Syrian Christian group holding protest marches demanding status quo at the Kolenchery St. Peter's & St. Paul's Church. Under the status quo ante, the parallel Jacobite group were allowed to offer Mass every third Sunday. Regional Catholicos of parallel Jacobite Syrian Christian Church group Baselios Thomas I had demanded the restoration of status quo ante and led a protest sit-in near the Church on Saturday afternoon. The protest was called off late in the night.

Tensions started on Sunday 10th September when the police blocked the Metropolitan His Eminence Dr. Mathews Mar Severious and other priests from entering the parish and celebrating the Holy Mass. Police vacated all of Orthodox members presented in the church on Sunday. The Sts. Peter and Paul Church, Kolencherry, and the Kottoor chapel under it have been closed down temporarily and prohibitory orders under Section 144 Cr.PC declared around these institutions. It was on Sunday 2.30 pm that RDO R Maniyamma declared curfew as per district collector's direction.

The Orthodox Church has criticized the closure of the Church and described it as a conspiracy by the Chief Minister and the District Collector. The Orthodox Church, under the leadership of His Holiness Baselios Mar Thoma Paulose II, started fasting 200 metres away from Kolenchery St. Peter's and St. Paul's Church (where curfew has been imposed) around 4 pm on Sunday.

Meanwhile, the parallel Jacobite Syrian Christian Church group under Regional Catholicos Baselios Thomas I began an indefinite protest prayer at 6 pm near the shrine at Kolenchery Junction against a recent order of the Ernakulam District Court that hands over the administration of St. Peter's and St. Paul's Church at Kolencherry to the rival Orthodox Church and demanding that status quo should be maintained.

An urgent meeting of The Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church Working and Managing Committee was held on September 13th and decided to call an urgent meeting of Malankara Syrian Christian Association, which was held on September 15th to discuss the situation and unanimously decided to continue the indefinite fasting until the court order is fully executed. Protest meeting are arranged in all diocese in Kerala under the leadership of Diocesan Metropolitan’s and Diocesan council.

While the Orthodox Church decided to call off the agitation following the request from the Government of Kerala on Sunday18th September, The parallel Jacobite faction has not decided to withdraw the protest against a recent order of the Ernakulam District Court that hands over the administration of St. Peter's and St. Paul's Church at Kolencherry to the rival Orthodox Church. The parallel Jacobite faction is holding the indefinite protest prayer at Kolenchery parallel Jacobite Syrian Christian chapel.

H E Metropolitan Domadios of Giza passes away

London,17th September, 2011 (britishorthodox.org): Abba Seraphim expressed his condolences at the news of the death of His Eminence Metropolitan Domadios of Giza, who died on 16 September at at El-Salam Hospital in Mohandessin, Giza where he was under treatment. Pope Shenouda along with 37 metropolitans and bishops and 3,000 people led the funeral office. The funeral was attended by the Vatican Ambassador to Egypt, the Minister of Interior (General Mansour al-Issawi) and the Governor of Giza.

Born as Michael Khalil on 9 July 1925 at Maghagha City (Minya Governorate), he completed his high college and spent his early and primary school Bmgagh then moved to complete his secondary education school at El-Masai El-Mashkura College in Shebin El-Kom. On 1946, he received his his bachelor’s degree from the Faculty of Agriculture at Cairo University. He then studied a 2-years Education diploma (1948) to work as teacher of Agriculture in Tanta for two years.

At the age of 15, he joined the church village ministry convoys in Giza. During his university studies, he started teaching Sunday School at St Mark’s Church in Giza. Michael Khalil was a disciple of Father Mi9na the Hermit (the future Pope KyrillosVI).

On 29 April 1951, he was consecrated as a monk monk at the Syrian Monastery with the name “Fr Matthias”. As an Agricultural Engineer, he utilized his knowledge to improve the desert soil near the monastery and cultivate a farm. This was one of the earliest attempts to cultivate desert soil. On March 1953, he was ordained priest, then Hegoumen in April 1954 (which is remarkable as he was not yet even to his 30s).

When Fr Mina the Hermit was consecrated as Pope Kyrillos, Fr Matthias joined his secretariat. The former sent him in 1962 to support the growth of St Mina’s Monastery at Mariut. At the same time, Pope Kyrillos nominated him for the episcopate, which he refused. However, the Holy Synod selected him to become the Bishop of Giza and Pope Kyrillos consecrated him as Bishop Domadios of Giza on 31 March 1963. He was later promoted to the rank of Metropolitan by Pope Shenouda III on 2 June 1985.

In his later years, Abba Domadios suffered from a stroke which left him partially paralysed and confined to a wheel chair for many years, but in 2009 Pope Shenouda consecrated Bishop Theodosius as a General Bishop to assist him.


Translated with few additions from Dostour Newspaper

Catholicos of the East H.H.Beselios Paulose II Fasting at Kolenchery

Kolencherry, Kerala (India): The oldest churches in India, the Syrian Orthodox Church of the East in central Kerala is in the grip of an intense feud. The fight between rival factions of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church is now spilling onto the streets. The bone of contention is the ancient church in Kolencherry, which both warring Orthodox and Rebel Jacobite factions claim as theirs. The trouble has become worse, after a recent court order, which handed over control of the church to the Orthodox Church headed by Catholicos of the East H.H.Beselios Paulose II.

Trouble began when the Orthodox Church decided not to share ownership of the church with the rivals, preventing them from entering the premises. The Orthodox faction demanded that the Rebel Jacobite faction abide by the district court order.

The dispute over the right to worship further led the head the Orthodox Church, HH Baselios Marthoma Paulose II to launch a hunger strike on Sunday.

Not budging from its stand, the Jacobite faction under Catholicos H B Baselios Thomas I as well began a prayer strike programme near the shrine.

The Orthodox Church wants the government to implement the court order immediately. Father Dr K M George from the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church says, "There is a clear court verdict. If the government implements the order, the matter will be solved." But the Jacobite faction say they cannot be ousted from the church. Geevarghese Mor Coorilos from the Rebel Jacobite Syrian Christian Church says, "We have been worshiping here for ages. We cannot be suddenly told that you have no right here and you should go away and build a new church."

The church is believed to be the shrine of St Peter dating back to the 7th century. It is considered holy to both factions of the Malanakara Church. But after the skirmishes between the two groups, it has now been closed for worship. There are concerns that if a settlement is not reached soon, the tension between two groups will flare up. Since there have been violent clashes between the two factions in the past, police have been deployed in large numbers to prevent any violence.

With tensions rising believers say it now time to end the hostility. Joseph Zachariah a devotee of the Orthodox Church says, "I think this is disgraceful for the entire Christian community. What we need is an amicable settlement. We should end all this."

A curfew was Sunday declared at the tension-gripped Kolenchery.The district collector meanwhile has sought the intervention of the mediation cell of the High Court to resolve the dispute. District Collector P I Sheik Pareeth told the court that the dispute had become a law and order issue and would worsen with more people joining the protests.

Egypt's Pope back home

CAIRO, September 9, 2011: Pope Shenouda III, the head of Egypt's Coptic Orthodox Church, returned home Thursday 6th September 2011 from a trip to the US and Hungary, where he received treatment and opened a new church, the official Middle East News Agency (MENA) reported.
MENA added that the Pontiff was in good health after some check-ups in the US, followed by his trip to Hungary, where he was awarded an honorary doctorate and inaugurated the Virgin Mary and Archangel Michael Church in Budapest.

A ceremony was held to welcome Pope Shenouda, as he arrived at his headquarters at Saint Mark’s Cathedral in el-Abbasiya (Abbasseya) neighborhood of Cairo after his 19-day trip. He told those present at the ceremony that he was in good health.
A police officer tried to ban journalists from entering the Church's headquarters but eventually withdrew when the reporters threatened to stage a sit-in, Emad Khalil Of almasryalyoum.com reported.
In related news, Sherif Doss, president of the Coptic General Authority, called on all Coptic candidates in upcoming parliamentary elections to coordinate with the authority regarding their electoral campaigns.

THE LETTER OF HIS HOLINESS ARAM I TO THE PRIME MINISTER R.T. ERDOGAN OF TURKEY

This is the text of the letter that His Holiness Aram I Catholicos of Cilicia sent to H.E. Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Prime Minister of Turkey.

His Excellency
Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Prime Minister of Turkey
Ankara

Mr. Prime Minister,

We read in the press of your government's decision to return properties seized from religious minorities in Turkey since 1936. Undoubtedly, this deci¬sion was an attempt to respond to recent developments at the European Court of Human Rights and to the US Congressional scrutiny of Turkey's repression of its Christian minority.

As the spiritual and legal Head of the Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia, uprooted from its centuries-old seat and established in Antelias, Lebanon, and as the representative of the faithful of the Armenian Orthodox Church, also ex¬iled from Turkey and dispersed all over the world, we find your decree of Saturday 27 August 2011 partial and unjust. The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia still holds the titles of ownership of several churches, hospitals, schools, orphanages, cemeteries and other church properties that were confiscated by Turkish authorities during the Armenian Genocide of 1915. The Armenian peo¬ple still keep the titles of ownership of the homes, businesses and lands they in¬herited from their grandparents who were victims of the Genocide planned and executed by the Ottoman-Turkish government of the time.

The current decree of your government may comply with European Union standards, but is not an act of justice. Mr. Prime Minister, selective acts of justice deny history and negate democratic values and principles. International instruments such as the European Court of Human Rights and Congressional and parliamentary bodies are implementers of democratic values and principles, and the people are their conscience. As Fridjof Nansen, the High Commissioner of the League of Nations (1921) and Nobel Prize winner, wrote in his well-known book, Armenia and the Near East (London, 1928), "The Armenian people have never abandoned hope; they have gone on bravely working, and waiting. They are waiting still…" (p. 324). And I would add that they will never stop demanding justice from Turkey for the Armenian Genocide; and they will never stop de¬manding the restoration of their human rights.

Mr. Prime Minister, your claim for justice and human rights will be credible only if you recognize the Armenian Genocide.

ARAM I

CATHOLICOS OF CILICIA

31 August 2011
Antelias, Lebanon








Dear fellow Armenians,
Human resources is the indicator of a nation's or community's inner power and creative mind and a guarantor of its bright future. The Armenian Diaspora is rich with human resources. It is vitally important that we get a clear, accurate and comprehensive information about our human resources in the Diaspora. Indeed, "Information is power; and the power of knowledge and information becomes a source of deeper self-understanding and self-affirmation" according to His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of Cilicia.
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia has initiated a program aimed at gathering information about our human resources in the Diaspora. By human resources we basically mean: community leaders, clergy, economists, people of media, writers, politicians, artists, public figures, medical doctors, teachers, university lecturers, businessmen, and generally specialists in the area of science and technology, etc. This initiative has the full support of His Holiness.
Thus, we kindly ask you to fill in the Form and submit it to the Catholicosate, Antelias, Lebanon. We also ask you to forward this e-mail (with the link http://www.armeniancatholicosate.org) to your friends.

Chancellery

ARMENIAN CATHOLICOSATE OF CILICIA

http://www.armenianorthodoxchurch.org