Genocide of the Armenians Commemorated in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin
26.04.2005
On April 24, a solemn Divine Liturgy was offered in the Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin with His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, presiding. The celebrant was His Grace Bishop Paren Avedikian. During the liturgy, His Grace read the Pontifical Encyclical of the Pontiff of All Armenians dedicated to the 90th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.
Following the celebration of the Divine Liturgy, a special Repose of Souls Service was offered by His Holiness in memory of the one and one-half million innocent victims of the Genocide of the Armenians. At the conclusion of the service, visiting representatives from sister Christian Churches presented their words of solidarity and support to the Armenian nation dispersed throughout the world, and extended messages of friendship and brotherhood from the heads of their Churches to His Holiness.
On the occasion of this somber 90th anniversary, archbishops and bishops of sister Christian Churches have traveled to Armenia as guests of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin to participate in the 90th Anniversary commemoration events. Representatives from the Syrian Orthodox Church, Roman Catholic Church, Russian Orthodox Church, Greek Orthodox Church, Romanian Orthodox Church, Georgian Orthodox Church, the Church of England and the Conference of European Churches joined His Holiness during the service.
In the evening of April 24, His Holiness Karekin II presided during an Ecumenical Requiem Service in Yerevan at the Saint Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral. At the invitation of the Catholicos, each guest clergymen from abroad offered a prayer for the rest of the souls of the countless victims in their native language and joined with the Armenian Church clergy and faithful in solemn remembrance.
In attendance was President of the Republic of Armenia Robert Kocharian, President of the National Assembly Artur Baghdasarian, Prime Minister Andranik Margarian, government ministers and national assembly members, ambassadors and representatives of the diplomatic corps registered in Armenia, and thousands of faithful.
Also present were more than twenty genocide survivors and their family members, who had specifically been invited to participate in this service. At the conclusion of the service, His Holiness offered a special prayer of blessing for the survivors.
