PRELACY READIES FOR CATHOLICOS ARAM I’S 30TH JUBILEE VISIT IN NOVEMBER

The Eastern Prelacy will soon host a historic celebration marking the 30th anniversary of the enthronement of His Holiness Catholicos Aram I of the Great House of Cilicia. From Thursday, November 13, to Sunday, November 16, the Prelacy will organize a series of cultural, spiritual, and community events across New York and New Jersey in honor of this major milestone in the Catholicos’ rich, eventful pontificate.   

The four-day program will open with a concert at Carnegie Hall on November 13, featuring the renowned soprano Isabel Bayrakdarian, followed by a cultural evening at Saints Vartanantz Church Hall in Ridgefield, New Jersey, on November 14. On November 15, Catholicos Aram I will meet with young professionals at St. Illuminator’s Cathedral in Manhattan, underscoring his long-standing commitment to engaging with the next generation of Armenian leaders. The visit will culminate on Sunday, November 16, with the celebration of the Pontifical Divine Liturgy at St. Sarkis Church in Douglaston, New York, and a gala banquet at the Garden City Hotel in Long Island. 

His Holiness Catholicos Aram I (born Bedros Keshishian in Beirut in 1947) received his early education at the Armenian Seminary of Antelias and later pursued higher theological studies at the Ecumenical Institute of Bossey in Switzerland, the American University of Beirut, and Fordham University in New York, where he completed a doctorate in theology. 

He was ordained vartabed in 1970 and a bishop in 1980 and became Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia in 1995, succeeding His Holiness Karekin II (later Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin I). Since his election, Catholicos Aram I has been a vigorous spiritual leader and an articulate voice for the Armenian Church worldwide, emphasizing the importance of ecumenical dialogue, interfaith cooperation, and the active role of the Church in addressing contemporary challenges. He is among the most recognized ecumenical figures in the world as well as one of the most respected voices in inter-religious dialogue.

A prolific author and lecturer, Catholicos Aram I has published extensively on theology, ecumenism, and Armenian identity. His works are widely respected in the global Christian community, reflecting both scholarly depth and pastoral vision. 

Beyond his theological contributions, His Holiness has been a tireless advocate for the Armenian cause, raising international awareness of the Armenian Genocide and pushing for justice as well as reparations. He has repeatedly alerted the Armenian and global community to the plight of Armenians in the Middle East. Under his leadership, the Catholicosate of Cilicia has continued its mission of education, social service, and cultural preservation, particularly in Lebanon and Syria, where it remains a pillar of strength for Armenian communities facing political and social turmoil.