His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Armenian Church, Holy See of Cilicia. Photo via armenianorthodoxchurch.org

His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Holy See of Cilicia and head of the Great House of Cilicia of the Armenian Apostolic Church, will be coming to the Central Valley.

He will visit the Armenian Genocide Monument at Fresno State on Wednesday, Nov. 5, as part of his tour of the United States and Canada, celebrating the 30th anniversary as Catholicos. A wreath-laying ceremony will take place at 11:30 a.m. on the Maple Mall.

His Holiness was born in Beirut, Lebanon in 1947 and studied at the Armenian Theological Seminary in Antelias, the Ecumenical Institute of Bossey in Switzerland, the American University of Beirut, Oxford University and Fordham University in New York, where he earned multiple advanced degrees. 

He was elected Catholicos in 1995 and has been globally recognized for his leadership in ecumenical relations, interfaith dialogue and advocacy for human rights and the recognition of the Armenian Genocide.

Associate Professor Barlow Der Mugrdechian, Berberian Coordinator of Armenian Studies at Fresno State, will host the visit.