Catholicos Karekin II and Aram I deliver messages on 110th anniversary of Armenian Genocide

Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II issued a message on the 110th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

“At the dawn of the 20th century, the monstrous genocide orchestrated by the Ottoman Empire claimed the lives of one and a half million of our people. Yet the horrors of massacre and dispossession did not extinguish the enduring strength of our nation. ‘Afflicted, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken’ (2 Corinthians 4:8–9)—our people endured, placing their hope in the Crucified and Risen Savior of the world. Through daily struggles for justice, they survived, steadfast in their identity and sustained by the hope of the ultimate vindication of the Armenian Cause.
The God-given love for our ancient homeland, devotion to its sacred values, and fidelity to our history and millennia-old memory empowered our people to renew life across distant lands—and at the foot of Mount Ararat in Eastern Armenia, to reestablish an independent state.

On this sacred day of remembrance, dear ones, our people across the world turn their steps toward churches and Genocide memorials, renewing their solemn pledge of commitment to continue, as a nation, a Church, and a state, the unceasing pursuit of recognition for the Armenian Genocide. Indeed, crimes committed against humanity and human dignity admit neither justification nor statute of limitations. The recognition and universal condemnation of the Armenian Genocide is not only the duty of our people but a moral imperative for all of civilized humanity. Through the collective efforts of our global nation and with the support of the international community, many countries and human rights organizations have raised their voices for justice, recognizing the Armenian Genocide as a crime against humanity,” Karekin II said in his message.

Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia Aram I emphasized in his message that unity serves as a shield for the Armenian people. “Today we have virtually no friends. The only real friend of our nation is itself—the unity of its sons and the Armenia-Diaspora interaction. We—both Armenia and the Diaspora—as a nation, are moving in the wrong and dangerous direction, towards the abyss. Therefore, let us wake up, unite and mobilize the potential of our nation to strengthen Armenia and realize our rights,” said Aram I.