Catholicos H.H. Aram I of the Armenian Church visits the Holy Father at the St. Ephraim, the Syrian Monastery in Damascus

St. Ephraim Monastery, SYRIA: His Holiness Catholicos Aram I of the Armenian Orthodox Church of Cilicia visited the holy father Patriarch H.H. Ignatius Zakka-I Iwas at the St. Ephraim Monastery in Ma`arat Sayy'dnaya near Damascus on Tuesday the 2oth October. The Armenian delegation was received at the Monastery entrance by H.E. Mor Philexinos Mathias Nayis, the Patriarchal assistant and Director of the St. Ephraim Theological college, priests, monks and students of the seminary.

After a warm welcome, the Holy Father introduced Catholicos Aram I as a strong ecumenical leader who Moderated the Executive and Central Committees of the World Council of Churches for two terms and described him as a dynamic force in the meetings of the Heads of the Oriental Orthodox Churches in the Middle East and its standing committee. His Holiness the Patriarch also added that their cooperation has strengthened the contribution of Oriental Orthodox Churches in bilateral dialogues on theological, dogmatic and other issues with Christian world communions.

Thanking Patriarch H.H. Ignatius Zakka-I, the Catholicos Aram emphasized the centuries old strong ties between their two Churches, which was rooted in common Christological, dogmatic and theological principles. The Catholicos also wished the Holy father a long life and success in leading the Syriac Orthodox Church. Later the Catholicos answered certain questions from the audience concerning the relationship between the two churches, the Coptic Orthodox Church and sister.

The visit ended with a banquet organized in honor of His Holiness Aram I and his delegation.

Photos and News from the official Syrian Orthodox

& Armenian Orthodox websites

source: http://www.syrianchurch.org/