Encyclical Proclaiming “Year of Spiritual Renewal” Read in the Presence of His Holiness Catholicos Aram I in Antelias
As previously announced, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, Catholicos of the Armenian Church, Holy See of Cilicia, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), through a special Pontifical Encyclical, has proclaimed the year 2026 as the “Year of Spiritual Renewal.” The Pontifical Encyclical was read by His Eminence Archbishop Shahan Sarkissian, Director of the “Cilicia” Library and Head of the Manuscripts and Old Printed Books Departments at the Catholicosate, during the Divine Liturgy following the Feast of the Nativity on Sunday, January 11, 2026.
Since 2003, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I has dedicated each year to a specific theme, concern, or event directly related to our lives, guiding the faithful to focus on it throughout the year in their thoughts, actions, and overall life.
In the Encyclical, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I emphasized this theme as an “imperative necessity” to counter the declining of spirituality in Armenian life. He defined spiritual life as a life centered on Christ, which prioritizes the spiritual over the material and is filled with God’s presence and heavenly values.
Reflecting on current challenges, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I noted that the Church has become overly ritual-centric and called for urgent liturgical reform to foster more active and meaningful congregational participation. He also stressed the need to rebalance the Church’s focus from a primarily national identity toward its core spiritual mission, which should serve as the foundation for all Armenian values…
This news was originally published on the Website of the Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia. Please click here to read the full text.