Armenian Apostolic Holy Church The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin

On April 24, Commemoration Day of the Armenian Genocide and the Holy Martyrs, the Brotherhood of Holy Etchmiadzin lead by His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians; participated in the Divine Liturgy at St. Gayane Monastery. On this day, the relics of the holy martyrs of the Armenian Genocide were taken out for the faithful. The celebrant was His Eminence Archbishop Pargev Martirosyan, Pontifical Legate with Special Commitments. During the Divine Liturgy, the message of His Holiness Karekin II Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians on the occasion of the commemoration of the Martyrs of the Armenian Genocide; was read. “More than a century has passed since the Armenian Genocide was planned and committed by Ottoman Turkey. Our people suffered genocide and were scattered all over the world in their surviving remnants, leaving one and a half million martyrs in their historical homeland and in the deserts of deportation. At the beginning of the 20th century, the genocide of the Armenian people was defined as the first crime against humanity of the century, with the monstrous manifestations of national annihilation and ethnic enmity. Today, the pain of the tragedy of the Genocide has overwhelmed the souls of our people, burdened with the heavy losses of the Artsakh war, in a new way. Before the blessed memory of our holy martyrs, it is our cherished duty to strengthen national unity, to refrain from violence and conflicts in domestic political developments, and to pursue the protection of our rights with a zealous spirit. The only guarantee of enriching the life of our people with achievements, and withstanding the challenges and threats we face, is a high sense of responsibility for strengthening the state, and the consolidation of national and spiritual values. With the intercession of our Holy Martyrs, we pray to the Most Merciful Lord that our country will be peaceful and secure, that our people all over the world will unite and build a prosperous and bright future for the sake of the nation and the Homeland”- it was stated in the Pontifical Message. Following the Divine Liturgy, the procession of clergymen carrying the relics of the holy martyrs headed to the courtyard of the Mother Cathedral, where His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians offered an intercession service at the Memorial to the Genocide and Khachkar of Prayer and Oath.