is Holiness Aram I was born in 1947, in Beirut (Lebanon). He has studied at the Armenian Seminary in Antelias (Lebanon), the Near East School of Theology (Lebanon), the American University of Beirut, the Ecumenical Institute of Bossey (Switzerland) and Fordham University (New York,USA). His major areas of specialization have been philosophy, systematic theology and Near Eastern Church history. He holds M. Div., S.T.M. and Ph.D.

Catholicos Aram I was ordained celibate priest in 1968. Two years later he obtained the title of Vartabed (i.e. Doctor of the Armenian Church). Late in 1978, while studying at Fordham University, Catholicos Aram I was elected Locum Tenens for the Diocese of Lebanon, and a year later the Primate of Lebanon. In 1980, he received the episcopal ordination.

Called to serve as Primate of the Armenian Orthodox Community in Lebanon at the most critical period of Lebanese history, His Holiness Aram I has made the following priorities the basic objectives of his pastoral work: the re-organization of churches and schools, the re-activation of social and church organization, the renewal of community leadership, and the strengthening of relationship with Christian and Moslem communities. On 28th June, 1995 he was elected Catholicos of Cilicia by the Electoral Assembly of the Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia. The consecration took place on lst July,1995. 

During his many years of ecclesiastical service, His Holiness has displayed a wide range of interests and has assumed important responsibilities in the Catholicosate of Cilicia as well as in the Ecumenical Movement. 

For many years he has lectured on Armenian and theological subjects in the Armenian Seminary and Haigazian University. In addition to his numerous articles in Armenian, English and French (some of which have been translated into Arabic, German, Spanish and Swedish) in local and international periodicals, Catholicos Aram I has authored the following works: 

• Nerses the Gracious as Theologian and Ecumenist, 1974, Beirut (in Armenian)
• The Witness of the Armenian Church in a Diaspora Situation , 1978, New York (in English)
• With the Will of Re-building, 1983, Beirut (in Armenian)
• The Christian Witness at the Crossroads in the Middle East, 1980, Nicosia (in English)
• With the People, 1989, Beirut (in Armenian), Conciliar Fellowship: a Common Goal , 1991, Geneva (in English)
• Orthodox Perspectives on Mission, 1992, Oxford (in English)
• Nerses the Cracious and Church Unity, 1996, Antelias (in English)
• Towards an Ecumenical Ethic for a Sustainable Society in a Sustainable Creation,1994, Geneva (in English)
• The Incarnation of the Gospel in Cultures: a Missionary Event, 1995, Beirut (in English)
• Towards 1700th Anniversary of the Christianization of Armenia through St. Thaddeus, 1996, Antelias (in Armenian)
• The Challenge to be a Church in a Changing World (in English) New York, 1997

His Holiness was one of the founding members of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) in 1974, and from the beginning he has served on the Council's Executive Committee. As delegate of his Church, he attended the Nairobi (1975), Vancouver (1983) and Canberra (1991) General Assemblies of the World Council of Churches (WCC). In 1975, he was elected member of the Faith and Order Commission of the WCC, and in 1983 member of the Standing Committee of that same Commission. At the Vancouver Assembly His Holiness was elected member of the Central Committee of the WCC, and in the Canberra Assembly the Moderator of the Central and Executive Committees of this global ecumenical body. He is the first Orthodox and the youngest person to be elevated to this highest position in the World Council of Churches.

Besides his responsibilities in the WCC, Catholicos Aram I has also been member of the following international committees and organizations: honorary member of Pro Oriente, a Roman Catholic ecumenical foundation based in Vienna, as well as member of its Standing Committee; member of Oriental Orthodox-Eastern Orthodox Dialogue; a founding member of Oriental Orthodox-Reformed Dialogue; a founding member of Orthodox-Evangelical Dialogue; honorary president of «World Religion's Museum» Foundation. 

On several occasions, His Holiness has given public lectures on Armenian, ecumenical and theological themes in various countries. His CV appears in Who's Who in the World, International Directory of Distinguished Leaders and in many international directories and publications. 

His pontifical ministry has been a period of intense activities. He paid pontifical visits to the Armenian Communities in Lebanon, Syria, Iran, Cyprus, Greece, USA and Canada. He met with Patriarch Shenouda III (in Cairo), Patriarch Parthenios III (in Alexandria), Patriarch Hazim (in Damascus), Patriarch Zakka (in Damascus), Patriarch Sfeir (in Lebanon), Patriarch Hakim (in Lebanon), Patriarch Hayek (in Lebanon), Patriarch Alexy II (in Moscow), Archbishop Chrysostomos (in Cyprus), Archbishop Seraphim (in Athens). He also met with the Presidents of Lebanon, Syria, Iran, Cyprus, Greece and the USA.