PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Director
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:
PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon
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"OUR PEOPLE SHOULD SPEAK UP CLEARLY FOR THEIR JUST CAUSE AGAINST TURKISH
DENIAL", SAID ARAM I
The 24th of April this year was the 95th anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide. Armenians in Lebanon made a pilgrimage to Antelias and demanded
that Turkey recognize the genocide.
The pilgrimage began on Friday 23 April in the morning, with the gathering
in Antelias of all Armenian students in Lebanon. In the Memorial Chapel, the
students lit candles in memory of the Martyrs. Then through different
activities they paid tribute to the rich Armenian intellectual resources and
cultural heritage, which, in 1915, the Ottoman Turks attempted to destroy
when they removed the Armenians from their ancestral land.
In the same evening youth organizations met in Antelias. Through vespers,
candle-lighting vigils and cultural activities, they renewed their
commitment to the memory of the martyrs and the Armenian cause.
On Saturday, 24 April, in the morning, His Holiness Aram I presided over the
liturgy for the one-and-a-half million Martyrs and preached the sermon.
Bishop Kegham Khatcherian, Prelate of Lebanon, celebrated liturgy in front
of the Memorial Chapel. At the end of the liturgy, the Ambassador of Armenia
to Lebanon, representatives of all Armenian organizations, officials and the
people laid wreaths and flowers in front of the Chapel.
The pilgrimage ended with a march organized by the Committee for the
Commemoration of the 95th Anniversary of the genocide from Antelias to Bourj
Hammoud. Thousands of marchers walked silently on the highway, which had
been closed to traffic, waving Lebanese and Armenian flags and carrying
banners demanding accountability from Turkey and the international
community.
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View the photos here:
tos/Photos474.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
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.