Holy See of Cilicia

A 19th century engraving of Sis showing the Armenian castle overlooking the town, and the walled enclosure containing the palace and cathedral of the Catholicossate of the Great House of Cilicia.

The Catholicossate of the Great House of Cilicia (Armenian: Կաթողիկոսութիւն Հայոց Մեծի Տանն Կիլիկիոյ) is one of two sees of the Armenian Apostolic Church. Since 1930, it is headquartered in Antelias, Lebanon. His Holiness Aram I is Catholicos of Cilicia of the Armenian Apostolic Church since 1995.

Great House of Cilicia Eras

(Refer to List of Armenian Catholicoi of Cilicia)

• First Sis era, 267-301: According to the order of Catholicoi, *St. Gregory I the Enlightener (also known as Gregory the Illuminator) was seated in Sis 267-301 before moving to Echmiadzin in 301 where he continued in office until 325.
• Sivas era, 1058-1062
• Tavbloor era, 1062-1066
• Dzamendav (Zamidia) era, 1066-1116
• Dzovk era, 1116-1149
• Hromgla era, 1149-1293
• Second Sis era, 1293-1930
• Antelias, Lebanon era, since 1930 - having transferred there from Sis in Cilicia in the aftermath of the Armenian Genocide.

Catholicossate in Sis

The city of Sis (modern-day Kozan, Adana, Turkey) was the center of the Catholicossate of the Great House of Cilicia for more than 6 centuries starting 1293, when the Catholicossate moved from Hromgla to Sis. In the First World War, most notably in 1915, the Armenian population and the monastery of St. Sophia of Sis, home of the Catholicossate (which dominated the town in early 20th century photographs) was destroyed. The last residing Catholicos in Sis was Sahak II of Cilicia (Catholicos from 1902 to 1939). His Holiness Sahak II followed his Armenian flock in exile from Turkey.

Catholicossate in Antelias

His Holiness Sahak II after leaving the premises of the Catholicossate in Sis stayed at various locations in Northern Syria and in Lebanon, running the affairs of the Catholicossate.

Tha ailing Catholicos who served until 1939 was aided in his later years by Papken I of Cilicia who served as Coadjutor for the Catholicos from 1931-1936. Both clergy decided to acquire a plot of land in Antelias, Lebanon, to build there the new center of the Catholicossate.

The complex of the Catholicossate of the Great House of Cilicia (in Antelias, Lebanon) includes:

• St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral built in 1940
• The Catholicossate Library (established 1932)
• "Cilicia" church museum (1997)
• Small church dedicated to the memorial of the victims of the Armenian Genocide.
• The "Veharan" (Վեհարան), the location of the catholicos' residence.

The Catholicossate also runs a printing house that publishes various religious, cultural and historical books and publications, as well as "Hask" the official periodical of the Catholicossate and the annual "Hask Armenological Review".

The Catholicossate complex also includes the cemetry where a number of the heads of the Catholicossate of the Great House of Cilicia are buried.

A theological seminary is located in the nearby mountains in Bikfaya that also serves as summer residence for the Catholicos and the clergy.

Location

The Catholicossate is located in Antelias, Matn District at 33°55′5.79″N 35°35′7.18″E (33.918275, 35.585328), on a large plot overlooking the Beirut - Tripoli highway and the Mediterranean Sea.

See also

• Armenian Apostolic Church
• Echmiadzin
• List of Armenian Catholicos of Cilicia

External links

• Official site of the Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia

33°55′5.79″N 35°35′7.18″E