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:
HIS HOLINESS PLACES THE “PARTSRAPERT” GOSPEL IN THE DER-ZOR GENOCIDE MUSEUM
Antelias, Lebanon – His Holiness Aram I, who has embarked on a pilgrimage to
Der-Zor on the occasion of the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide,
placed a newly produced version of the “Partsrapert” Gospel in the Genocide
museum in Der-Zor.
His Holiness had taken the gospel with him to Der-Zor from Antelias.
“One of the masterpieces of Cilician miniature, this Gospel is a silent
witness which has escaped the Turkish sword and passed through the Der-Zor
desert. Those who saved this miniature from destruction before they saved
their lives, no longer exist today. But the remains of thousands of our
victims, whom the Gospel accompanied through this desert, rest here,” His
Holiness said.
As a preparation for next day’s events, hesgoum was held in the evening,
when many pilgrims visited the chapel and prayed for the victims of the
Armenian Genocide.
His Holiness praised the Armenians’ will for resurrection and explained the
symbolic significance of the chapel, which has become a pilgrimage site for
the whole Armenian nation.
“The Chapel in Der-Zor has a different significance from all the churches of
the world; it’s a haven for our victims. A nation that doesn’t have martyrs
is poor. Our martyrs walked through this desert. They died, but gave us life
through their faith and sacrifice,” he said.
The Museum in Der-Zor contains all the publications, whether in Armenian or
other languages that pertain to the Armenian Genocide and describe it as the
most heinous crime of the 20th century.
His Holiness arrived in Aleppo on night of April 22 and visited Der-Zor the
next day. Bishop Shahan Sarkisian, primate of the Diocese of Aleppo as well
as representatives from the diocese greeted His Holiness at the Syrian
border.
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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.