Aram I holds meetings during pontifical visit to Eastern U.S.

PanARMENIAN.Net - His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Holy See of the Great House of Cilicia, is currently on a Pontifical visit to the Eastern United States. His Holiness’ visit, which officially began on May 7, will conclude on June 4, when he will open the Eastern Prelacy’s National Representative Assembly (NRA) in Watertown, before returning to the Holy See in Antelias, the Armenian Weekly reports.

On May 6, Catholicos Aram I left for Washington accompanied by the Catholicosate’s Ecumenical Officer Very Rev. Housig Mardirossian, and staff-bearer, Rev. Bedros Manuelian.

On the morning of May 7, His Holiness Aram I visited Capitol Hill, where he met with U.S. Senate Democratic Party leader Harry Reid, and Senators Jack Reed and Diane Feinstein. During their meeting, they discussed the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, the Armenian diaspora, and the situation in the Middle East. Aram I then offered the opening prayers of the Senate session. He prayed for God to guide the endeavors of the Senate, and for the 1.5 million martyrs of the Armenian Genocide and their descendants.

On May 8, Aram I met with In Defense of Christians Coalition President Toufic Baakline, and Senior Advisor Andrew Dorani. The Catholicos thanked the coalition for their advocacy on behalf of Christians in the Middle East and for their recent statement on the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide. His Holiness Aram I also received the Prelates and members of the Executive Committee of the Eastern and Western Prelacies of the Catholicosate of Cilicia.

The same day, His Holiness met with Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) Bureau member Hagop Der Khatchadourian, as well as representatives of the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA), who briefed him on their work.

On May 9, the Holy Liturgy commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Genocide was celebrated at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Washington D.C. in the presence of over 2,000 Armenians and guests.

Aram I, accompanied by his delegation, visited the Lebanese Embassy in D.C. and met with Ambassador Antoine Chedid on May 11. They discussed the situation in the Middle East and particularly in Lebanon. The Ambassador informed him of his work with the American authorities and His Holiness briefed the Ambassador on the Centennial commemorative activities of the Catholicosate. They also spoke of the role of the Armenian communities in the United States.

On May 12, Aram I visited Philadelphia’s St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Apostolic Church where he was greeted by the Very Rev. Nerses Marougian and members of the church’s board of trustees.

On May 13, Aram I joined the community in a special breakfast held at the St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Apostolic Church, during which community leaders had a chance to ask questions to His Holiness about the youth, the Syrian Armenian community, and the Sis court case.

On May 14, Aram I visited St. Vartanants Church in New Jersey where the priests, members of the church council, scouts and the faithful received him.

On May 16, Aram I attended a youth seminar at the St. Gregory the Illuminator Church in New York. He was met by Archbishop Choloyan, Vicar Tanielian, priests and members of the Church Council.

On May 15, The faculty, board members, parents, and students of the Hovnanian School in New Milfolrd, N.J., welcomed His Holiness and the accompanying delegation.

On the morning of May 17, His Holiness celebrated the Holy Liturgy, while Archbishop Choloyan and Bishop Meghrik Parikian served the Catholicos on the altar. Zohrab Menatsakanian, the Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia to the United Nations, was also among the faithful.

During a banquet at the New York Palace Hotel, Aram I decorated George Bournutian, Vazken Ghougassian, and Hratch Zadoyan with the insignia of St. Mesrob Mashdots in appreciation for their services to the Church and Armenian culture. Following dinner, Aram explained the unprecedented act of the Catholicosate of Cilicia’s lawsuit filed with the Constitutional Court of Turkey and its implications.