Armenian Apostolic Church representatives lay wreaths at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Moscow

In Moscow, representatives of the Armenian Apostolic Church, led by Archbishop Ezras Nersisyan, Primate of the Russian and New Nakhichevan Diocese of the AAC, laid flowers and wreaths at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The ceremony, held on the eve of Victory Day, was attended by clergy, combat veterans, and public figures.

Karen Petrosyan, a serviceman in the Russian Armed Forces, spoke about the importance of keeping alive the memory of those who fell during the Great Patriotic War.

“It is important to remember the sacrifice of our fallen during the Great Patriotic War, because young people need to understand that in order to defend their country in a difficult hour, they must be prepared to endure hardship,” Petrosyan said.

Ceremony participants honored the memory of the fallen with a minute of silence.

Armais Kamalov, chairman of the Diocesan Council of the Russian and New Nakhichevan Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church and a full member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, stressed that the memory of the Great Patriotic War must not be forgotten.

“For us, May 9 is a sacred holiday. We are the generation that must remember the heroes, honor them, so that the memory of this terrible war is never forgotten,” Kamalov said.

Victory Day is traditionally celebrated on May 9. This year marks the 81st anniversary of the Victory.