A Consultative meeting held at the Catholicosate of Cilicia in Antelias discusses future resettlement and reorganization for the members of the Armenian Community in Syria.

28 January 2016. On Thursday, His Holiness Aram I opened the meeting on Syria in the presence of Archbishop Shahan Sarkissian, the Prelate of the Diocese of Syria (Peria), members of the Executive Council of the Catholicosate and representatives of the Diocesan Council of Peria.

In his opening speech, His Holiness commended the members of the Armenian community for keeping their unity and remaining attached to their institutions in these difficult times. After expressing his deep appreciation to the Archbishop and members of Church bodies for accompanying the community and responding to their needs, the Catholicos invited them to start planning for reconstruction and resettlement.

In response to Catholicos Aram I’s opening speech, Archbishop Shahan Sarkissian thanked His Holiness on behalf of the Diocesan Council and the members of the community for his unconditional support and for the Special Fund to provide humanitarian assistance to the community in Syria. The meeting then discussed possible ways of reorganizing the community and its institutions and brainstormed on the possible role and contribution of the Armenian community in rebuilding post-civil war Syria.