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: [email protected]
Web:
PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon
Armenian version:
PRAYERS AT MARGADE AND A REQUIEM SERVICE IN DEIR-ZOR FOR THE SOULS OF THE
ARMENIAN GENOCIDE VICTIMS
Antelias, Lebanon – During his pilgrimage to Deir-Zor for the commemoration
of the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, His Holiness visited the
St. Haroutioun Chapel in Margade on April 24 and prayed for the souls of the
one and a half victims of the Genocide.
His Holiness and the pilgrims accompanying him stopped in the desert on
their way to Deir-Zor and sang the hymn “Keta Der”, while walking into the
depths of the desert. A requiem service for the victims of the Armenian
Genocide was held in the desert under the burning sun.
“90 years ago our mothers and father, our brothers and sisters, old and
young, children and adults walked through this desert. This sand under the
open sky became the collective grave of their unburied corpses,” said His
Holiness.
“Our nation walked through this desert hungry, thirsty and abandoned, until
they collapsed and mingled with the desert as their last haven. But you have
now flourished this desert oh reborn children of an immortal nation. You’re
equipped with an unyielding will that defeats the perpetrator’s evil will.
You know how to replace hopelessness with hope, how to transform suffrage to
happiness and even how to resurrect from death,” said His Holiness speaking
to the pilgrims who accompanied him.
The Catholicos added: “At this moment, we express our utmost gratitude to
the Syrian Arab people, who gave refuge to the Armenians deported by the
Turks, welcomed them in their tents, shared their bread with them and
provided a home to our people’s unburied remains. Standing here, at the site
of the martyrdom of our victims, we vow to remain loyal to their legacy.”
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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.