PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E-mail: cathcil@cathcil.org
Web:
PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon
Armenian version:
Watch the recorded video of the commemoration and the message of His
Holiness Aram I here:
Read the message of His Holiness Aram I in Armenian here:
es/messages8.htm
91ST ANNIVERSARY OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
“APRIL 24 IS NOT A SINGLE DAY FOR US, EVERY DAY IS APRIL 24 FOR US”
SAYS HIS HOLINESS ARAM I
Thousands of Lebanese Armenian assembled in the Antelias headquarters of the
Armenian Church (Catholicosate of Cilicia) on April 24 to commemorate the
first Genocide of the 21st century, that of their forefathers. Gathered
around the first Armenian Genocide monument ever to be erected in the world,
they renewed their pledge to remain loyal to the memory of the victims of
the Armenian Genocide and to demand justice for the Armenian nation.
91 years after the bloody massacres and as established by tradition Holy
Mass was held in the St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral. His Holiness
Aram I, Catholicos of Cilicia, then headed a procession towards the Martyrs’
Chapel where the remains of Armenian Genocide victims rest and a requiem
service was held around the chapel.
The celebrant of the Holy Mass was Bishop Kegham Khatcherian, Primate of the
Diocese of Lebanon. His Holiness Aram I then delivered his message to the
people.
“Today is a day of national struggle and accountability. This is how I
characterize April 24 on our nation’s calendar. We are gathered with the
spirit of accountability and demands. Struggle means accountability. Our
martyrs demand explanation from us today,” the Pontiff said.
“Is the Armenian student ready to give account? Is the Armenian youth ready
to explain that it is strongly committed to the eternal legacy of our
martyrs in its everyday life?” he asked.
His Holiness said: “Our martyrs remind us that we should demand
accountability from criminal Turkey that executed a government planned
Genocide against our nation in 1915. If criminal Turkey continues to deny
the Genocide committed by its ancestors, there are proofs, even in the
criminal’s drawers, that witness to this crime committed against humanity.
Where is justice, where is respect for human rights, where is the unfolding
of truth? we ask. But we will continue our national struggle, accounting to
our martyrs and demanding accountability from the criminal.”
“April 24 is not a single day in our calendar. Every day is April 24 for the
individual who considers himself Armenian and lives as an Armenian. Today we
renew our pledge from Armenia to Antelias gathered around the remains of our
martyrs. In all the corners of the world we renew our pledge to walk down
the path of our martyrs, remaining true to their legacy; walk down the path
that will lead us to justice, because that is the road that leads to the
truth,” added the Spiritual Head.
The thousands of Armenian listening to the message then watched the
placement of wreaths by various Armenian organizations and parties and the
mass then started a march towards the municipality stadium in Bourj Hammoud,
where a special event was organized on this occasion.
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View photos here:
es57.htm
ctures58.htm
s/Pictures59.htm
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The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the history and
mission of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of the
Catholicosate, The Cilician Catholicosate, the
administrative center of the church is located in Antelias, Lebanon.