Catholico expresses sorrow on attacks against Christians
By Ben Garcia, Staff Writer
21/5/2011
Armenian bishop expresses sorrow on attacks against Christians
KUWAIT: Aram I, leader of the Armenian Orthodox Church (the Catholicos) based in Lebanon, expressed sorrow at the recurrent attacks against Christians in the Middle East. The Catholicos was referring to the recent spate of violence that minority Coptic Christians in Egypt and Iraq were subjected to. He spoke to local reporters on Wednesday evening at the Sheraton Hotel, on the sidelines of his official visit to the country. He also met with HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Mohammad Al-Sabah.
Aram I is visiting the country at the invitation extended by his community in Kuwait. He will preside over the function to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Armenian School in Kuwait. “For centuries, Christians and Muslims have been living side by side in this part of the world,” he told the press. “Of course, there are times when issues turn sensitive. It is part of our human existence and diversity, but I really don’t understand why we hear such sad news.
Attacking each other does not constitute our values, be Muslim or Christian. Therefore, these two monotheistic religions should have a clear and common stand against violence, remind them of people perpetuating violence. Whatever they do is against the Holy Quran and the Holy Bible. We have to be faithful to the teachings and values of our sacred books,” he said.
He went on to say that people of all religions should focus on issues that unite them, respecting their differences. “Focus on what really unites us and not concentrate on things that divide us,” he said. Aram I said that all religions, especially the monotheistic ones, teaches respect and love for one another. All religions of the world must come together and act together, speak out on the basis of common values. “Of course, we cannot say that we are completely same. We have some differences, but we
have to bring the message of mutual respect, message of love, peace, justice, and understanding despite our differences,” he mentioned.
We are living in one small world, the world was even smaller before the onset of technology. We are a globalised world now. We must live together. Religions have responsibilities – to instruct people with their own example, living side by side in harmony, be more humble, improve one’s quality of life. It should become our guiding principle for our co-existence,” he added.
Aram I of the Holy See of Cilicia, is the chief bishop of Armenia’s national church, the Armenian Apostolic Church. It is one of the Oriental Orthodox churches that does not accept the decisions of the Council of Chalcedon. The first Catholicos of All Armenians was Saint Gregory, the Illuminator. According to tradition, it was the apostles Saint Thaddeus and Saint Bartholomew, who brought Christianity to Armenia in the 1st century.
