PRELATES, CENTRAL EXECUTIVE AND EXECUTIVE COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES OF THREE CILICIAN PRELACIES OF
UNITED STATES AND CANADA MEET

WESTERN PRELACY HOSTS MEETING
LA CRESCENTA, CALIFORNIA—The Prelates of the Western United States, Eastern United States, and Canada, a representative of the Central Executive Council of the Catholicosate of Cilicia, and representatives of the Executive Councils of the three Prelacies held a joint meeting on Tuesday, September 11, at the offices of the Western Prelacy, in order to examine and plan joint programs.

Participating in the meeting were: His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, Prelate of the Eastern Prelacy; His Eminence Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate of the Western Prelacy; His Eminence Archbishop Khajag Hagopian, Prelate of the Prelacy of Canada; V. Rev. Fr. Muron Aznikian, chairman of the Religious Council (Western Prelacy); Mr. Khajag Dikitjian, Central Executive Council representative; Jack Mardoian, Esq., chairman of the Executive Council of the Eastern Prelacy; and Dr. Garo Hagopian, chairman of the Executive Council of the Western Prelacy. Participating in the meeting later in the day was V. Rev. Fr. Bartev Gulumian, vice chairman of the Religious Council (Western Prelacy).

PRAYER SERVICE
Prior to the formal opening of the meeting, a prayer service took place in the Sts. Drtad and Ashken Chapel, with special remembrance of the victims of the attacks that took place exactly six years ago on September 11, 2001, in New York, Washington, and Pennsylvania.

MEETING
The first session of the meeting convened at 11:30 a.m. The major items on the agenda concerned joint projects, especially because next year is the 110th anniversary of the Armenian Church in America, and the 50th anniversary of the Prelacy under the jurisdiction of the Catholicosate of Cilicia. Next year is also the 35th anniversary of the Western Prelacy and the 7th anniversary of the Canadian Prelacy. In light of these anniversaries, all three North American Prelacies are planning celebrations that require coordination and diligent work.

The meeting participants thoroughly studied the upcoming 50th anniversary. They discussed proposed plans and made decisions relative to this anniversary.

Guiding the participants was a letter from His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the
Great House of Cilicia, who advised the three Prelates to centralize their efforts in the field of religious and national education, youth gatherings, and the Blessing of the Holy Muron which will take place next year in Antelias.

The three Prelates each expressed their thoughts, and praised the importance of this and future similar meetings. It was noted that although the Prelates have previously met, this was the first meeting of the Prelates with representatives of each Council. The representatives of the Central Executive Council and the Executive Councils expressed their views and agreed on the importance of united joint endeavors.

The meeting reviewed the list of joint publications and noted that the New Testament and Psalms is already published, and the new Divine Liturgy Pew Book and the Clergy Handbook are being prepared.

Before discussing educational matters, the meeting participants made note of the following:
1. Vehapar’s visit last December began an inter-Prelacy effort for youth gatherings. It is imperative to give further effort and make plans in this area.
2. An international youth gathering will take place in Antelias, August 13-20, 2008. The three Prelacies must work to encourage participants from all areas.
3. Next year, on June 7, 2008, His Holiness Aram I, will bless the Holy Muron in Antelias. The three Prelacies will develop and organize plans to encourage large numbers of the Faithful to join in pilgrimages to Antelias on this historic occasion.

EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
After a lunch break, the participants continued their meeting with discussions centered on religious and national education questions.

Discussed were: Current religious and national educational programs, with special attention to texts for Christian education for use in Sunday schools, especially for those children who have been raised in North America, and the need to prepare teachers. The participants felt it vital that each Prelacy form a committee in order to bring forward concerns and plans in the field of education.

The participants also discussed the question of inter-Prelacy youth gatherings, the importance of regular gatherings and the question of organizing the youth. It was suggested that inter-Prelacy youth gatherings take place every two years and to delegate this program to a special committee.

The final portion of the meeting was devoted to questions connected to the general programs of the three Prelacies.

The participants reiterated their belief that such meetings are very helpful for the exchange of experience and ideas, and the cultivation of joint programs, as well as the advancement of the mission of the Holy See of Cilicia in a productive manner.