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Pillay and His Holiness discussed many ecumenical issues in addition to the most prominent challenges surrounding the ecumenical work. They also stressed the importance of strengthening ecumenical relations between churches and the necessity of praying and working together for peace and preserving human dignity in the Middle East and the world.
His Holiness Aram I is also president of the World Council of Churches for the Oriental Orthodox family, and honorary president of the Middle East Council of Churches.
After the meeting, Pillay prayed in the Catholic Church as well as in the building of the Armenian Genocide Martyrs.
During an ecumenical gathering, His Holiness Aram I presented a keynote address, followed by the WCC general secretary, who spoke on challenges facing the ecumenical movement today. This gathering was hosted by the Armenian Orthodox Catholicosate of Cilicia in Antelias.
Prior to the day’s meetings, Pillay began the morning by visiting the “Birds’ Nest” Museum-Jbeil, where he was introduced to its embodiment of the history of the Armenian genocide and the stories of thousands of orphan children who were uprooted as a result.
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Pillay began his visit with a stop at the “Birds’ Nest” Museum-Jbeil, where he was introduced to its embodiment of the history of the Armenian genocide and the stories of thousands of orphan children who were uprooted as a result.
MECC
He also visited the Seminary of the Armenian Orthodox Catholicosate of Cilicia and the Monastery of Saint Mary in Bikfaya, learning about its work and the lessons it offers. Pillay emphasized the importance of engaging people to learn and study through various ways, and offered the seminary’s library two WCC publications.
Pillay was accompanied by a delegation from the Armenian Orthodox Catholicosate of Cilicia, which included Father Hrant, the ecumenical officer at the Catholicosate and WCC central committee membe; Fr Dajad, chancellor of the Catholicosate and Director of the “Birds’ Nest” orphanage in the Lebanese region of Byblos; Seta Hadeshian, the Middle East Council of Churches associate secretary general; and Carla Khijoyan, WCC programme executive for the Middle East.
As his visit continues, besides visiting the WCC constituency in the region, the WCC general secretary aims to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Middle East Council of Churches and express appreciation for its dedication to promoting unity among its member churches and sister ecumenical organizations.
Pillay will meet, pray, and accompany the Armenian Apostolic Church (Holy See of Cilicia), Syrian Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East, Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East, National Evangelical Synod of Syria and Lebanon, and Union of Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East.
The visit will also comprise visits with the four families of churches present in the Middle East Council of Churches: Oriental, Orthodox, Evangelical, and Catholic.
WCC general secretary will visit Lebanon (WCC news release, 19 March 2024)
