On March 14, 2023, following the initiative of the Most Reverend Metropolitan of Messinia Chrysostomos, Professor at NKUA, and the Dean of the NKUA’s School of Theology, Associate Professor Christos Karagiannis, an event took place at the School of Theology in honour of His Holiness, the Primate of the Armenian Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia, Catholicos Aram I.
Present at the event, held under the auspices of NKUA, were the Most Reverend Metropolitan of Nea Ionia, Philadelphia, Iraklion, and Chalcedon Gabriel—as the representative of His Beatitude Archbishop of Athens and All Greece Hieronymos II—, the Archbishop of the Armenian Church of Greece, Mr Kegham Khatcherian, and faculty members from the two Departments of the School of Theology.
The Rector of NKUA, Professor Meletios-Athanasios Dimopoulos, addressed the event, as did Associate Professor Christos Karagiannis, Dean of the School of Theology, Professor Dimitrios Moschos, Chair of the Department of Theology, and the Most Reverend Metropolitan of Messinia Chrysostomos. The latter also provided a thorough presentation of the honouree’s work.
In his address, the Rector of NKUA mentioned, among other things, the following:
It is with great honour that we welcome here today a distinguished personality of global stature, His Holiness, the Primate of the Armenian Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia, Catholicos Aram I, a doctor honoris causa of NKUA since 2014.
On behalf of the University Authorities, I would like to highlight that His Holiness is a leading figure of Christianity in the Middle East and beyond, as well as in the Ecumenical Movement, the World Council of Churches, and the Inter-Christian dialogue.
His Holiness has used his work to combat fanaticism, fundamentalism, chauvinism, and racism wherever they arise and manifest.
That is why we again appreciate his visit to our University.
Of course, we will never forget His Holiness’ closing remarks in his speech upon receiving his honorary doctorate in 2014. To quote his own words:
‘Without Christians, the Middle East will lose its distinct identity as a melting pot of religions, traditions, and cultures. The future of Christianity in the Middle East looks secure when all states in the region are built based on pluralism, equality, and freedom; when, irrespective of any religious, confessional, ethnic, and cultural diversities, we create societies connected through mutual trust, respect, and tolerance.’
Your Holiness, thank you very much.
In his long speech, His Holiness, the Primate of the Armenian Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia, Catholicos Aram I, referred to the historical ties between the Church of Armenia and the Christian Orthodox Church and the ongoing Inter-Christian dialogue on Church unity.
