On July 7, 2021, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II received His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia for the Armenian Orthodox Church, and a delegation from the Armenia Church, at the Patriarchal Residence in Atchaneh, Befayya, Lebanon.

His Holiness Aram I said that “we visit you to celebrate together our unity” and “to congratulate Your Holiness and the Syriac Orthodox Church for the ordination of three new archbishops.” His Holiness wished the new bishops a fruitful ministry.

His Holiness Aphrem II welcomed His Holiness the Catholicos and expressed his joy to receive a delegation from the beloved Armenian Orthodox Church. He stressed the importance of this meeting as “a sign of our unity and common witness.” He considered that “we share the witness through martyrdom, especially the genocide against our people.” His Holiness said that “our togetherness is sacred, and we are always committed to foster and strengthen it.” He also introduced the three new archbishops.

His Holiness Catholicos Aram I presented gifts to the new bishops.

Later, Their Holinesses as well as all their Eminences and the delegation made a tour in the “Antioch Museum” at the Patriarchal Residence.

Their Eminences: Mor Theophilos George Saliba, Archbishop of Mount Lebanon and Tripoli, Mor Nicolaos Matta Abdelahad, Patriarchal Vicar in Spain, Mor Justinos Boulos Safar, Patriarchal Vicar in Zahleh and Bekaa, Mor Clemis Daniel Kourieh, Archbishop of Beirut, Mor Dionysius Jean Kawak, Patriarchal Vicar for the Archdiocese of the Eastern United States of America, Mor Chrysostomos Mikhael Chamoun, Patriarchal Vicar and Director of the Patriarchal Benevolent Institutions in Atchaneh, Mor Severus Roger Akhrass, Patriarchal Vicar for Syriac Studies, Mor Cyril Babi, Patriarchal Vicar for the Patriarchal Archdiocese of Damascus, and Mor Joseph Bali, Patriarchal Secretary, attended the meeting.

His Holiness the Catholicos was accompanied by their Graces: Archbishop Shahan Sarkissian, Director of the Library at the Catholicosate, Archbishop Shahe Panossian, Archbishop of Lebanon, and Archbishop Magar Ashkarian, as well as a group of monks from the Armenian Church.

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