ANTELIAS–With the ringing of the bells of the Mother Cathedral in Antelias–Lebanon–His Holiness Aram I–Catholicos of the Holy See of Cilicia–accompanied by church clergy and parishioners welcomed the year 2000 just minutes after the begin of the new year.
The religious ceremonies were followed by a reception by the Catholicos of parishioners–where he spoke to believers on this occasion.
Aram I congratulated the entire Armenian nation on this solemn occasion. "Praise God for all the good in our lives–praise Him for providing us all individually as well as as a nation with so much to be thankful for," said the Catholicos.
The religious leader called on all those in attendance to strengthen their faith in God and in his teachings. "Lord Almighty–we ask you to please help us strengthen our faith–because it is our faith that fulfills us and lends meaning to our lives. That faith became our life and our light in Bethlehem. It is exactly this faith and belief–which will carry us as people and as a whole nation in this time and in this world of uncertainty," continued the Catholicos.
" At the dawn of this new millennium in our collective history–let every Armenian from the four corners of the world choose that same faith which opened onto us in Bethlehem–because we are convinced there is no other light and no other path but the path of truth that began with the birth of God’s son. There fore–let us all choose that path and continue–for this is the path to life–salvation and the eternal path," said the Catholicos.
In addition–Aram I called on all Armenia’s to keep the word of God alive and well in their daily lives–looking to that word for guidance and strength.
All those in attendance were presented with a gift commemorating the 1700th anniversary of the Armenian Church.