His Holiness Aram I at Ararad Sport Center
20/5/2012
“CULTURE HAS PLAYED A MAJOR ROLE IN ARMENIAN CHRISTIANITY” HIS HOLINESS ARAM I
ANTELIAS, Lebanon – “Culture is an efficient way of self-expression and self-affirmation of a people. Hence, it plays a crucial role in preserving and enhancing a nation’s identity. This is more than true with the Armenian people” said his Holiness. Roughly speaking five thousand people were attending a cultural event organized in honor of His Holiness, on Saturday 19 May.
Speaking about the Armenian culture, Aram I underscored the significant role that it played in the life of the Armenian people. He said that “Armenian Christianity was manifested through the norms, patterns and forms of Armenian culture. The Armenian Church became the source of Armenian culture. The intimate identification of religion and culture is one of the peculiar features of our history”.
His Holiness then pointed out three challenges facing the Armenian culture: the specificity of the Armenian culture must be preserved; the Armenian culture must be enriched and it must be shared with others.
The Armenian traditional and modern songs and dances enriched the evening.
Opening the gathering, H.E. Archbishop Sebouh Sarkissian, the Armenian primate of Tehran welcomed the presence of His Holiness among his people. He highlighted the important contribution of the Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia towards the promotion of Armenian cultural values.
The next day Catholicos Aram visited the centers of three major cultural organizations and greatly appreciated their role in the community.
