H.H. Aram I

Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia

 Biography

Catholicos Aram I Keshishian (M.Div., S.T.M., Ph.D.) was born in 1947, in Beirut [Lebanon]. He has studied at the Armenian Seminary in Antel]as [Lebanon], the Near East School of Theology [Lebanon], the American University of Beirut, the Ecumenical Institute of Bossey [Switzerland] and Fordham University [New York]. His major areas of specialization have been philosophy, systematic theology and Near Eastern Church history.
Catholicos Aram I Keshishian was ordalned celibate priest in 1968. Two years later he obtained the title of Vartabed ]i.e. Doctor of the Armenian Church] by presenting a dissertation on Mampre Verzanogh, a 5th century Armenian theologian. Late in 1978, while studying at Fordham University, Catholicos Aram I Keshishian was elected Locum tenens of the Diocese of Lebanon. The following year, the Representative Assembly of the Diocese unanimously elected him Primate. In 1980, he received the Episcopal ordination.
Called to serve as Primate of the Armenian Orthodox Community in Lebanon at the most critical stage of Lebanese history, Catholicos Aram I Keshishian has made the following priorities the basic objectives of his pastoral work: the re-organization of churches and schools, the re-activation of social and church organizations, the renewal of community leadership, and active participation in all efforts aimed at the restoration of the national unity and the sovereignty of Lebanon.
During his many years of ecclesiastical service, Catholicos Aram I Keshishian has displayed a wide range of interests and has assumed important responsibilities in Armenian Church as well as in the Ecumenical Movement.
For many years he has lectured on Armenian and theological subjects in the Armenian Seminary and Haigazian University College. In addition to his numerous articles in Armenian, English and French [some of which have been translated into Arabic,German,Spanish and Swedish] in local and international periodicals.
Since 1972, he has served as the General Secreta~ for the Ecumenical Relations of the Cilician Catholicosate. In this position, he has represented the Catholicosate of Cilicia at major ecumenical conferences and assemblies in different parts of the world.
Catholicos Aram I Keshishian was one of the found]rig members of the Middle East Council of Churches [MECC] in 1974, and from the beginning has served on the Council's Executive Committee. As delegate of his Church, he attended the Nairobi 119751, Vancouver [1983] and Canherra 11991] General Assemblies of the World Council of Churches [WCC]. In 1975, he was elected member of the Faith and Order Commission of the WCC, and in 1983 member of the Standing Committee of that same Commission. At the Vancouver Assembly, Catholicos Aram I Keshishian was elected member of the Central Committee of the WCC, and in the Canherra Assembly Moderator of the Central and Executive Committees of this Ecumenical body. He is the first Orthodox and the youngest person to be elevated to this highest position in the World Council of Churches.
Resides his responsibilities in the WCC, Catholicos Aram I Keshishian is also a honorary member of Pro Or]cute, a Roman Catholic ecumenical foundation based in Vienna and a member of its Standing Committee.
Catholicos Aram I Keshishian is also a member of Oriental Orthodox-Eastern Orthodox Dialogue, Oriental Orthodox- Reformed Dialogue, OrthodoxEvangelical Dialogue and of several other local, regional and international ecumenical committees and interreligious organizations. Catholicos Aram I Keshishian is also an honorary president of "World Religion"s Museum" Foundation.
On several occasions, Catholicos Aram I Keshishian has given public lectures on Armenian, ecumenical and theological themes in various countries. His CV appears in Who's Who in the World, International Director..' of Distinguished Leaders and in many international directories and publications.