On April 24, on the occasion of the Day of Remembrance of the Holy Martyrs of the Armenian Genocide, the Congregation of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, led by His Holiness His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, participated in the Holy Liturgy at St. Gayane Monastery. On this day, the relics of the holy martyrs of the Armenian Genocide were taken out to pay their respects to them.
The liturgist was the Pontifical Nuncio to the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, His Holiness Pargev Archbishop Martirosyan.
During the Holy Immortal Liturgy, the message of the Catholicos of All Armenians on the occasion of the Day of Remembrance of the Holy Martyrs of the Armenian Genocide was read.
“More than a century has passed since the Armenian Genocide was planned and committed by Ottoman Turkey. Our people suffered genocide and were scattered all over the world in their surviving remnants, leaving one and a half million martyrs in their historical homeland and in the deserts of deportation.
At the beginning of the 20th century, the genocide of the Armenian people was defined as the first crime against humanity of the century, with the monstrous manifestations of national annihilation and ethnic enmity.
Today, the pain of the tragedy of the Genocide has overwhelmed the souls of our people, burdened with the heavy losses of the Artsakh war, in a new way.
Before the blessed memory of our holy martyrs, it is our cherished duty to strengthen national unity, to refrain from violence and conflicts in domestic political developments, and to pursue the protection of our rights with a zealous spirit.
The only guarantee of enriching the life of our people with achievements, and withstanding the challenges and threats we face, is a high sense of responsibility for strengthening the state, and the consolidation of national and spiritual values.
With the intercession of our Holy Martyrs, we pray to the Most Merciful Lord that our country will be peaceful and secure, that our people all over the world will unite and build a prosperous and bright future for the sake of the nation and the Homeland.”
At the end of the Holy Liturgy, the procession of clergymen, carrying the relics of the holy martyrs, headed to the blockade of the Mother Cathedral, where an intercessory service for the holy martyrs of the Armenian Genocide was held in front of the khachkar (cross stone) of prayer, presided over by the Catholicos of All Armenians.
