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: info@armenianorthodoxchurch.org
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

Armenian version: nian.htm

WHILE COMMEMORATING THE 90TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIRST WORLD WAR
THE WORLD MUST ALSO REMEMBER THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
HIS HOLINESS ARAM I

Thousands of veterans, dignitaries and state officials gathered at the
memorials in United Kingdom, France, Australia and in different parts of
Europe to pay their respect to those who lost their lives in the First World
War.

Indeed, by marking Armistice Day the world remembers the horrible war of
1915-8 during which hundred thousands of men and women lost their lives.

His Holiness Aram I associating himself with this commemoration said that
"While remembering the victims of the First World War, the world must also
remember one and a half million Armenian martyrs who were brutally massacred
by the Ottoman-Turkish government. This carefully planned and systematically
executed genocide, aimed at the extermination of the Armenian nation as a
nation, was part of the so-called pan-Turanian policy of the Ottoman
Empire".

The Armenian Genocide was the first Genocide of the 20th Century which was
followed by so many genocides and mass killings.

Speaking about the crucial importance of memory, in his book, "For a Church
Beyond its Walls" (Antelias, 2007, p. 295), His Holiness Aram I has
expressed his concern that "Today, some people, for political motives, still
do not remember the genocide of the Armenians, and others refer to it as an
"alleged" genocide. The Armenian people, however, live the memory of
genocide vividly in their daily life. That memory is deeply rooted in their
common consciousness. Is this not true of all the people who have
experienced genocide? We have in our world so many painful experiences, so
many stories of violence and so many images of suffering that must be told
and shared with others, not as an expression of hate and intolerance, but as
a reminder and challenge to move to repentance, forgiveness and
reconciliation".

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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
the 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.