His Holiness Aram I delivers Easter messageApril 10, 2012 - 13:18 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - In his Easter Message on Sunday, April 8, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, His Holiness Aram I said, “Christianity would have lost its purpose and meaning without Christ’s resurrection. Resurrection is the fulfillment of the promise of a renewed Christian life guided by the truth and righteousness of God.” He addressed two issues that touch the lives of people in the Middle East. Of the situation in the Arab World, he said, “We would like to see the metaphorical spring become a real spring, whereby the flowers of justice, mutual understanding, peaceful coexistence and human rights break into full bloom.” “Because Christians and Muslims both belong to this region and their histories are interwoven,” he continued, “they should work as partners to demand that as new reforms are introduced in these countries, the full rights of both communities are respected and constitutionally recognized.” His Holiness Aram I also addressed the internal situation in Lebanon. While he commended the government for restoring internal security, he suggested that more could be done to respond to the urgent needs of the population. For example, he asked, “How can any government deprive its citizens of electricity for more than thirty years?” Finally, he urged the government to hasten dialogue among the different political parties in order to strengthen the unity of the country. He then blessed the faithful, and prayed that they carry the message of resurrection into their everyday lives. On Easter Monday, during the liturgy of Memorial for the Deceased that follows every major feast in the Armenian Church, the Catholicos presided over the service. Special prayers were said for the inhabitants of Maragha village in Martakerk, Karabagh, who were massacred twenty years ago. Top stories Six total incidents have burned 19 old-growth trees. Friday night 8 trees were torched along the beautiful main entrance. The EU does not intend to conduct military exercises with Armenia, Lead Spokesperson for EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Peter Stano says. Hikmet Hajiyev has said that there is no place for USAID operation in Azerbaijan any longer. A telephone conversation between Putin and Pashinyan before the CSTO summit is not planned, Peskov says. Partner news | Concept to complete Yerevan Cascade discussed at city hall A conceptual proposal to complete the Cascade complex in downtown Yerevan has been presented by Jean-Michel Wilmotte. Pashinyan visits flood-hit region Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Saturday, June 8 visited the disaster area in the Lori province. €3.5 mln EU grant to support justice reforms in Armenia The European Union has paid €3.5 mln grant to Armenia within a €11mln program on Support to Justice Reforms. Yerevan reacts to Baku’s proposal to see Minsk Group abolition Alen Simonyan has declared that Armenia is taking steps aimed at concluding a peace treaty with Azerbaijan. |