28 July 2014. On Monday Hon. Jason Kenny and his delegation met with His Holiness Aram I. Rt. Rev. Housig Mardirossian, the Ecumenical Relations officer, was also present. The Minister is in the region on a special mission to assess the political situation and discuss the problems of Christian communities in the region.

The Minister discussed the role of Canadian Armenian community in Canadian society, the commitment of Canadian authorities to the recognition of the Armenian Genocide and his government’s perspectives on the conflict in the Middle East. His Holiness thanked Minister Kenney for Canada’s support of the Armenian community and the Armenian cause, and he described and shared his concerns about the situation of Armenians in Syria and Lebanon.

The Catholicos and the Minister discussed the 100th Anniversary commemorations of the Genocide and the negative attitude of Turkey towards the just cause of the Armenian people. Before leaving, the Minister and his delegation visited the Martyr’s Chapel in Antelias and paid tribute to the memory of the victims.

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24 July 2014. On Wednesday evening the Youth Committee of the Catholicosate, accompanied by Rev Barouyr Shernezian, director of the Youth Department, met with His Holiness Aram I. The committee presented its activity report and the findings of the survey they had carried out with its 50 members. The purpose of the survey was to identify the expectations of youth from the Church. It was decided that after the compilation of the report and identification of priorities, the committee would expand its study to all other dioceses of the Catholicosate. His Holiness thanked the members of the committee for the study and said, “the Armenian youth are the life force and future of our Church and society.

They should not remain passive members, but should participate in and contribute to all aspects of our community life. He then told the committee that he was committed to empowering the youth who are ready to act in order to safeguard the memory, traditions and values of the Armenian people.

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2/8/14

Archbishop Shahan Sarkissian, Prelate of the Diocese of Peria (Syria) recently arrived in Antelias to brief His Holiness Aram I on the situation of Armenians in Aleppo, Damascus, Jezireh, Lattakia and Kessab. He also informed the Catholicos on the provision of humanitarian assistance and rehabilitation efforts. The Catholicos expressed his appreciation to the work of the committees and their courage in defending the rights of the vulnerable Armenian communities.

Soon after the meeting, the Archbishop left for Tartous to meet with the clergy and the lay leadership and then to continue meetings in Lattakia, Kessab and other cities and towns in Syria. On Sunday, 27 July 2014, the Archbishop celebrated the Holy Liturgy in Kessab and anointed the newly restored altar of the Church. At the end of the Liturgy, Archbishop Shahan transmitted the blessings of His Holiness Aram I and assured the faithful of the support of the Catholicos and his determination to continuing to respond to their urgent needs.

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