condolence letter

HIS HOLINESS ARAM I EXPRESSES HIS CONDOLENCES TO THE THREE IRANIAN DIOCESES

ANTELIAS, Lebanon - His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Holy See of Cilicia dispatched the following condolence letter to the Primate of the Diocese of Tehran, Archbishop Sebouh Sarkissian, regarding the tragic death of 17 Armenians in a horrifying accident near the borders of Iran.


Archbishop Sebouh Sarkisian
Primate of the Diocese of Tehran
Tehran, Iran

Dear Archbishop,

During our official visit to Damascus, Syria, we received with great pain the news of the terrible accident that happened near the Turkish-Iranian border. According to the information that reached us, 17 Armenians fell victim to the accident and a similar number of people are injured. The tragic incident happened as a group of pilgrims from Tehran, Ourmiya, Tabriz and New Julfa had visited Western Armenia to tour our centuries-old spiritual and intellectual monuments.

The loss is great; it deals a heavy blow to the Armenians of Iran and it causes us great pain. At this time of mourning we share your pain with you. At such moments we should turn to the Holy Spirit, asking Him spiritual comfort. May God accept in his heavenly kingdom the souls of our innocent compatriots.

We express our deepest condolences to the Primate of the Diocese of Tehran, Archbishop Sebouh Sarkisian, the Primate of the Diocese of Isfahan, Bishop Papken Charian, and the Primate of the Diocese of Azerbaijan, Bishop Neshan Topouzian, the Armenian national committees of the three dioceses, the families of the victims as well the Armenians of Iran.

We pray to God to protect our nation’s children in Iran and the rest of the world from such accidents.

With Pontifical Love,

ARAM I
CATHOLICOS OF CILICIA

WHEN I HEARDS THE BAD NEWS,although it seems,bad news travel fast,when i came to know my relatives in Isfahan were among them and details regarding one of them who just in "Mother Day" has called my " Mother in law" to express her sincre greeting,my sorrow doubled.

I do believe the bus case was a TRAGEDY FOR ALL ARMENIANS WORLDWIDE.

Astvats voghurmi