PRESS OFFICE
Armenian Holy Apostolic Church Canadian Diocese
Contact; Deacon Hagop Arslanian, Assistant to the Primate
615 Stuart Avenue, Outremont Quebec H2V 3H2
Tel; 514-276-9479, Fax; 514-276-9960
Email; adiocese@aol.com
Website;

Ottawa – April 2005 marks the 90th anniversary of the first genocide
of the twentieth century, the Armenian Genocide of 1915. As in the
case of the atrocity of genocide, committed against the Armenian
people, other crimes against humanity and civilization have occurred
“again and again.” To mark this important date in history, the
Diocese of the Armenian Orthodox Church of Canada, will hold an
Ecumenical (all Christian churches) and Interfaith (all faiths)
Service, on Friday April 15, 2005, 7:30pm in Ottawa, Canada.

This Commemoration will be held at Notre Dame Cathedral in Ottawa. The
Archbishop of Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Ottawa His Eminence Marcel
Gervais will be the keynote speaker. Church and Interfaith leaders are
invited to participate in this ceremony. The services will be
dedicated to the remembrance of victims of all genocides. The
commemoration is open to the public.

In addition to the multi-faith prayers, the commemoration service will
feature performances of ancient Armenian ecclesiastical music of world
famous Armenian Church hymns sung by a choir consisting of 60 members
from the St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Cathedral Choir.
Despite advanced age and frailty, some of the remaining Genocide
survivors and their immediate family indicated their desire to
participate and will be present if their health permits at this
historic commemoration.

Federal, provincial and municipal politicians, as well as
representatives of foreign governments posted in Canada will be
attending the service.

Honorable Ed Broadbent, Member of Parliament for Ottawa Centre will be
the Guest Speaker, for the service. “The massacre of Armenians in
1915 was a clear undisputed act of genocide. While it is hard to
imagine anything worse than war, genocide is because people are
selected for systematic murder not for what they have done or for the
territory they occupy – but simply for who they are,” said Broadbent.

The ecumenical service in Ottawa is part of a Canada-wide
commemoration campaign organized by the Canadian Diocese of the
Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Church in association with religious
figures of many denominations and faiths. Similar interfaith services
will be held in Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver.