Catholicos Aram I of the Great House of Cilicia marked the 30th anniversary of his enthronement during a solemn ceremony in Toronto.
Speaking at the Armenian Youth Centre of Toronto, Aram I expressed hope that the past 30 years have opened a new chapter in the Catholicosate’s history, according to an official church statement.
Addressing current challenges, he warned, “The homeland is heading toward self-destruction, and the Diaspora toward self-erasure. We must act now through a pan-Armenian effort.”
He stressed the need to avoid emotional reactions and unrealistic appraisals. “We cannot plan our future based on chance and circumstance, on slogans and condemnations. We must build our nation’s future with realistic approaches, examining the present and clearly envisioning the future — along the path that leads to the salvation of the homeland and the welfare of our nation,” he stated.
Aram I emphasized that Armenia is at a crossroads and urgently requires “new leadership, new approaches, new attitudes to overcome the current state of stagnation.” He added that such transformation must come from the youth.
“Armenia is moving toward self-destruction. How can we halt this course? This is where the Diaspora’s role becomes vital, even though it too faces serious challenges.
I consider the Diaspora’s role in Armenia’s salvation and recovery to be essential. That is why, as the Catholicosate of Cilicia, we are initiating a process to reorganize and revitalize the Diaspora, because Armenia’s strength is directly linked to the strength of the Diaspora. This is the major challenge before us,” he concluded.
Catholicos Aram I’s representative in Armenia, Archbishop Shahan Sarkissian, met with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on October 16 in Yerevan. Sarkissian visited on behalf of the Catholicos. The accounts of the meeting released by the Armenian government and the Catholicosate of Cilicia differed: according to the Church, along with presenting a commemorative book, Sarkissian conveyed Aram I’s concerns regarding the arrests of clergymen.
