March 18, 2009: According to the tradition the Prelate of the Diocese of Lebanon Archbishop Kegham Khatcherian and the Members of the Church Council invited His Holiness Aram I to preside over the Mid-Lent Sunrise Service at the Saint Neshan Church of the Diocese in Beirut. The students of the seminary who accompanied His Holiness did the singing.
At the end of the Service Archbishop Kegham Khatcherian welcomed the Catholicos on behalf of the Diocese and its leadership for this Pastoral visit, which indicated that the whole Church was being resourced spiritually in anticipation of the Holy Feast of Easter.
In his message to the congregation, His Holiness Aram I said that the period of fasting and praying prior to Easter is the human response to Jesus’ words “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.” (John 9:10). Despite the sufferings of the Armenian community in Lebanon for many decades, the leadership and people remained steadfast. New challenges are now touching the lives of the youth. The decision to declare 2009 “The Year of Youth” was taken in order to discern and lead the youth to the “doors” where Jesus’ teachings, the Traditions of the Church and Armenian identity are affirmed and shaped through love, peace and hope. He then invited the Diocese and the faithful to open “doors” to the youth.
After the Service, the faithful were invited to share friendship around coffee and special Lent sweets thanks to the hospitality offered by the Church Council and Women’s Committee.
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