[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 16]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 21369]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   IN RECOGNITION OF CATHOLICOS ARAM I PONTIFICAL VISIT TO CALIFORNIA

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ADAM B. SCHIFF

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 27, 2005

  Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to join my Armenian American 
constituents in California's 29th Congressional District in welcoming 
the upcoming Pontifical visit of His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the 
Great House of Cilicia. His Holiness will be visiting the State of 
California this October at the invitation of His Eminence, Archbishop 
Moushegh Mardirossian of the Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic 
Church of America.
  His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, is the 
spiritual leader for hundreds of thousands of Armenians around the 
world and one of the most prominent Christian leaders in the Middle 
East. The Pontiff presently serves as the Moderator for the World 
Council of Churches (WCC). This prominent ecumenical organization is 
comprised of more than 340 churches from different cultures and nations 
around the world representing over 400 million Christians. The Pontiff, 
who is the first Orthodox and the youngest person to be elevated to 
this post, is currently serving his second term as Moderator.
  The main theme of the Pontiff's visit is ``Towards the Light of 
Knowledge.'' This theme reflects the Pontiff's deep faith that only 
with greater education and dialogue can the world's conflicts be 
properly addressed.
  The Catholicos's visit will be marked by a number of major events, 
including a speech he will deliver on October 14th at the Los Angeles 
World Affairs Council concerning the challenges to inter-religious 
dialogue in the Middle East. He will also participate by giving the 
main address at a symposium to be held at the University of Southern 
California focusing on ``Christian Responses to Violence.''
  Of special significance to the 29th Congressional District, the 
Catholicos will be consecrating the Saint Sarkis Armenian Apostolic 
Church in Pasadena and blessing a new headquarters for the Western 
Prelacy.
  I ask all Members to join with me and the Armenian American community 
throughout the State of California in welcoming the upcoming Pontifical 
visit of His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia.

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