19421 - The church of Armenia canonized the victims of the Genocide
N. Lygeros
Translated from the Greek by Vicky Baklessi
In one of the oldest Christian churches of the world, in the city of Etchmiadzin, the Church of Armenia canonized as martyrs the victims of the Genocide. This innovative act on behalf of the Church is something unique because of the multitude of the martyrs. The liturgy was held by the Catholicos of All Armenians and the Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia and used fourteen heirlooms. Representatives of England, of America and Canada also participated. With this act which is not a simple move, the Church of Armenia takes position and incorporates the issue of the Genocide of the Armenians in a religious level, reassuring in that manner a victory against oblivion, taking one more step towards truth. This Christian message has no room for questioning and is based on a mental scheme that all these genocided, were not simply victims, but didn’t change faith in order to protect their life. Until the end of their life they remained Christians against barbarity that wanted to devour them. The Ottoman Empire, the Young Turks and Kemal tried to annihilate an entire peoples. However, what did they manage with this Genocide? The Armenians are still here and their victims are now Saints. The Pope had recognized Saint Gregory as a Master of the Church and now the Church of Armenia canonized the victims. This process in a religious level opens a road to all the churches of Christendom. And here the Ecumenical Patriarchate can take a substantial position for our history.