April 6 Declared as Memorial Day for Clergy Persecuted and Martyred During Soviet Communist Dictatorship
06.04.2017
On April 6, in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, at the Martyred Clergymen Memorial Wall, a Requiem Service was held under the presidency of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians; for the clergy who were persecuted and martyred during the years of Soviet communist dictatorship.
During the service, His Holiness declared April 6, the martyrdom day of His Holiness Khoren I Muradbekyan, 128th Catholicos of All Armenians; as the annual Memorial Day for clergy who were persecuted and martyred during the years of Soviet communist dictatorship.
The Requiem Service was attended by members of the Brotherhood of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, staff of the Mother See, and pious faithful; as well as descendants and relatives of the persecuted and murdered clergy.
After the service, His Holiness delivered his message on the significance of the day. “Through prayerful spirit we held the Requiem Service for the clergy martyred during the years of Soviet communist dictatorship.
Among our martyred clergy was His Holiness Khoren I Muradbekyan, who was abused and murdered by anti-church authorities. His Holiness Khoren I put efforts towards the revival of the Armenian spiritual life during difficult times.
The commemoration of this event once again provides us an opportunity to reflect on the deprivations and trials of our Armenian Apostolic Holy Church throughout history, through which our Mother Church did not waver, but with constant steps continued its mission in the life of our people through the efforts and deeds of our dedicated servants. Filled with the determination of adorning their patriotic service with renewed achievements, the worthy servants of the Lord survived and overcame numerous barriers and obstacles, through prayer to Almighty, inviolable faithfulness to Christ our Lord and the hope of the bright future.
During that heavy historical period, our clergymen gave their lives, so that the light of faith would remain eternal in the life of the Armenians; continuing the mission of our Holy Church and the service leading to salvation and eternity of the Armenian faithful nation, consistent with the apostolic word: “So we are always of good courage; we know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. We are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:6-8).
Despite the devastating genocide of the Armenian people in the beginning of the 20th century, during which many priests were killed, the spirit of the clergymen did not yield, not even from the persecutions and atrocities of Stalin's dictatorship, once again proving the power of will and the great power of faith of Lord’s the followers.
The bright character and selfless expression of those clergymen is a vivid example for the clergy of our time.
Dear ones, in the shining memory of our sacrificed clergy, on April 6, the martyrdom day of His Holiness Khoren I Muradbekyan, the 128th Catholicos of All Armenians; we declare it as Memorial Day for clergy who were persecuted and martyred during the years of communist dictatorship”, stated the Catholicos of All Armenians.
On the occasion of the commemoration service, His Holiness Karekin II conveyed his Pontifical blessings and gratitude to Mr. Alexander Ter-Avanesov (Moscow, Russia), benefactor of the construction of the memorial wall; builder Mr. Gagik Galstyan, and through prayer, remembered the late architect Jim Torosyan.
The Catholicos of All Armenians asked for the Heavenly Lord to keep firm the native state of Armenia and the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church, and the world in peace.
