24 April – Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day
Worship resources:
The Armenian Genocide occurred from 1915 to 1923 when Armenians, as well as Greeks, Assyrian-Chaldeans, Syriacs, Arameans, Maronites, and other Christians were subject to torture, starvation, mass murder, lethal human medical experimentation, and exile from their historic homeland, and over 1.5 million lost their lives. The majority of the remaining Armenian population, displaced from their homes, were forced to escape to neighbouring and faraway communities and countries. ‘The Armenian Genocide represented a deliberate attempt by the Ottoman Empire to eliminate all traces of an ancient, thriving, and noble civilization that had lived in these regions for millennia.’ (adapted and quoted from a statement by the government of the State of Michigan USA)
The Garden of Peace and Prayer at, Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, Ireland, commemorates the Armenian Genocide. A Khachkar (cross stone), rises majestically in the centre of the garden. Erected in December 2015, the Khachkar commemorates the 100th anniversary of the Genocide. ‘The unique design bears motifs from the Irish High Crosses and the Armenian Khachkars.’ It was designed by Aram Hakhumyan and carved by Artak Hambardzumyan.
The banner and worship photos were taken at the 2019 Armenian Genocide Remembrance Service at Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin.
