[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 15]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 20985]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO HIS HOLINESS 
                                 ARAM I

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BRAD SHERMAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 21, 2005

  Mr. SHERMAN. Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to join my 
Armenian American constituents of California's 27th Congressional 
District in welcoming His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great 
House of Cilicia to the State of California.
  His Holiness Aram I was elected Catholicos on June 28, 1995. Four 
years earlier, His Holiness had been selected to serve as the Moderator 
for the World Council of Churches (WCC). This prominent ecumenical 
organization is composed of more than 340 churches from around the 
world and represents over 400 million Christians. His Holiness is the 
first Orthodox Christian and the youngest person to be elevated to the 
post of Moderator of the WCC.
  Aram I was ordained a priest in 1968 and obtained the title of 
Vartabed (Doctor of the Armenian Church) in 1970. In 1979 he was 
elected Primate of the Armenian Orthodox community in Lebanon. The next 
year he received his Episcopal ordination. His tenure as Primate of the 
Armenian community in Lebanon coincided with the Lebanese Civil War. 
During this time and after, His Holiness reorganized parishes and 
schools, restructured and reactivated church-related institutions, and 
renewed community leadership.
  As a strong supporter of inter-religious relations, dialogue and 
cooperation, Aram I has played a significant part in promoting common 
values, mutual understanding and peaceful coexistence among religions. 
He has worked tirelessly as Primate to foster tolerance and build 
mutual confidence between Christian and Muslim communities.
  His Holiness is also active as a scholar and has written several 
books in which he frequently admonishes the vital importance of 
dialogue and collaboration among the living faiths of the world.
  We can expect a message of peace and unity when His Holiness 
addresses the Los Angeles World Affairs Council on October 14th, 2005. 
His Holiness will also present the main address at a symposium to be 
held at the University of Southern California that will focus on how 
Christians respond to violence. I am honored that the Catholicos will 
be visiting the 27th District on October 7th to preside over church 
services to be held at Holy Martyrs Armenian Apostolic Church in 
Encino, California.
  Mr. Speaker, please join me in recognizing the His Holiness Aram I, a 
man who has been a strong voice for mutual understanding among 
religions, cultures and civilizations; a true spiritual leader 
committed to peace, justice, and human rights.

                          ____________________