Armenian Genocide Commemorated

April 24, 2009: On Thursday, 24 April 2009, thousands of Armenians gathered in front of the Memorial for the Martyrs of the 1915 Genocide in the courtyard of the Catholicosate in Antelias Lebanon. The Martyrs’ Chapel was built when the remains of one-and-a-half million victims were brought from the desert of Der Zor to Antelias, Lebanon.

The Prelate of Lebanon, Bishop Kegham Khatcherian, celebrated the Divine Liturgy. At the end of the liturgy His Holiness Aram I led the procession to the ‘Eternal Torch’ inside the Chapel where he celebrated the memorial service. In his address, he said: “The memory of our martyrs gives meaning to our lives because the future is a forward-looking vision built on past and present memories and experiences. As we pray in this place today, we cannot but once more renew our demand for justice for the inhuman acts committed against innocent men, women and children. Turkey wanted to eliminate us as a country and a people. We are grateful to all those countries that have recognized the Armenian Genocide of 1915. However, we want to tell them that recognition is not enough; we want justice. We are not asking for mercy from the world; we are demanding justice. This is our right. The Armenian nation is a victim of injustice; its human rights are violated. We cannot remain silent in view of this prevailing injustice. Our collective memory will not heal unless justice is victorious. Neither roadmaps, nor reciprocal visits will restore justice.”

And then turning to the youth, he said: “You have just returned from your pilgrimage to Der Zor where the massacres happened. You walked on the sand mixed with the remains of your ancestors. You threw flowers into the Euphrates River that washed away the bodies of men, women and children. You should now bring your pilgrimage into its fruition by using your knowledge and expertise to overcome denial and injustice in a non-violent way.”

At the end of the Requiem, official representatives, organizations, school children and the people passed in front of the ‘Eternal Torch’ and placed wreaths and flowers.

Armenian Genocide Commemorated in Turkey
ISTANBUL, Turkey -- On April 24, the Istanbul branch of the Human Rights Organization of Turkey organized an event in Istanbul commemorating the Armenian Genocide. The commemoration was held in what was formerly the "tobacco warehouse," now renovated and being used for exhibitions, events and meetings.

The event opened with the Armenian and Assyrian songs performed by the group "Kardes Turkuler" (Songs of Brotherhood).

Lawyer Eren Keskin's greeted the audience, numbering around 150, and said, "Today is the 24th of April, the 94th anniversary of the arrests in Istanbul which started the Armenian genocide in 1915." She added, "The official history [in Turkey] denies the genocide, but we know what happened and we believe it's important to tell people the truth. So, today we will commemorate the most brilliant intellectuals of the Ottoman Armenians: poets, writers physicians, lawyers, members of parliament, who were taken away on the 24th April 1915 and murdered."

The Bosphorus Performance Arts Group presented the life stories and poems of three great Armenian poets who perished during the Armenian Genocide--Roupen Sevag, Siamanto, and Taniel Varoujan--as well as the life and work of writer, lawyer and member of parliament Krikor Zohrab, who was also killed during the genocide. The presentation was accompanied by photographs projected on a screen and Armenian folk music played in the background.

Publisher Ragip Zarakolu talked about Teotig, the Armenian writer who was arrested together with others but escaped miraculously, and his famous book Hushartzan Abril Dasnimegi, which will be published in Turkish soon by the Belge publishing house. An exhibition of pages from this book was held in conjunction with the event, with lit candles under each page. A brief Turkish translation of each page was also provided.

In turn, Eren Keskin talked about Gomidas, while songs performed by Gomidas himself (recorded in 1912 in Paris) were played in the background and Gomidas' photographs projected on the screen. At the end Eren Keskin said, "let's leave the last word to Gomidas Vartabed." Then Gomidas song "Karun a" was heard while images of the deportation of Armenians were projected on the screen. - By Ayse Gunaysu (www.hairenik.com)

Armenian Genocide Commemorated in Holy Etchmiadzin

On the morning of April 24, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, visited the National Memorial to the Armenian Genocide, located on Tsitsernakaberd Hill in Yerevan. His Holiness was accompanied by members of the Brotherhood of Holy Etchmiadzin.

At the memorial, His Holiness Karekin II and His Excellency Serzh Sargsian, President of the Republic of Armenia, placed floral wreaths before the eternal flame of the monument. His Holiness presided during a Requiem service dedicated to the memory of the 1.5 million innocent victims of the first genocide of the 20th century.

Also present for the ceremony were high-ranking goverment officials, members of the National Assembly, Armenian Church benefactors from the Diaspora and other dignitaries.

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The same day, a solemn Divine Liturgy was celebrated in the Mother Cathedral of of Holy Etchmiadzin by His Grace Bishop Arshak Khachatrian, Chancellor of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. His Grace delivered a message in remembrance of this crime against humanity.

Following the Liturgy, a procession of clergy escorted the Catholicos to the Memorial of the Armenian Genocide located on the grounds of the Mother See, north of the Mother Cathedral. Standing near the monument of Khatchkars (Stone-crosses), His Holiness presided during a special Repose of Souls service. Also in attendance during the services was His Excellency Archbishop Claudio Gugerotti, Vatican Nuncio to the Southern Caucasus.
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