PRESS RELEASE
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Information Services
Address: Vagharshapat, Republic of Armenia
Contact: Rev. Fr. Ktrij Devejian
Tel: (374 1) 517 163
Fax: (374 1) 517 301
E-Mail: [email protected]
April 26, 2005
Genocide of the Armenians Commemorated in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin
On April 24, a solemn Divine Liturgy was offered in the Mother Cathedral of
Holy Etchmiadzin with His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and
Catholicos of All Armenians, presiding. The celebrant was His Grace Bishop
Paren Avedikian. During the liturgy, His Grace read the Pontifical
Encyclical of the Pontiff of All Armenians dedicated to the 90th Anniversary
of the Armenian Genocide.
Following the celebration of the Divine Liturgy, a special Repose of Souls
Service was offered by His Holiness in memory of the one and one-half
million innocent victims of the Genocide of the Armenians. At the
conclusion of the service, visiting representatives from sister Christian
Churches presented their words of solidarity and support to the Armenian
nation dispersed throughout the world, and extended messages of friendship
and brotherhood from the heads of their Churches to His Holiness.
On the occasion of this somber 90th anniversary, archbishops and bishops of
sister Christian Churches have traveled to Armenia as guests of the Mother
See of Holy Etchmiadzin to participate in the 90th Anniversary commemoration
events. Representatives from the Syrian Orthodox Church, Roman Catholic
Church, Russian Orthodox Church, Greek Orthodox Church, Romanian Orthodox
Church, Georgian Orthodox Church, the Church of England and the Conference
of European Churches joined His Holiness during the service.
In the evening of April 24, His Holiness Karekin II presided during an
Ecumenical Requiem Service in Yerevan at the Saint Gregory the Illuminator
Cathedral. At the invitation of the Catholicos, each guest clergymen from
abroad offered a prayer for the rest of the souls of the countless victims
in their native language and joined with the Armenian Church clergy and
faithful in solemn remembrance.
In attendance was President of the Republic of Armenia Robert Kocharian,
President of the National Assembly Artur Baghdasarian, Prime Minister
Andranik Margarian, government ministers and national assembly members,
ambassadors and representatives of the diplomatic corps registered in
Armenia, and thousands of faithful.
Also present were more than twenty genocide survivors and their family
members, who had specifically been invited to participate in this service.
At the conclusion of the service, His Holiness offered a special prayer of
blessing for the survivors.