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INTERFAITH SERVICE AGAINST GENOCIDE
Armenian Weekly
May 22, 2012
CHELMSFORD, Mass.-A display of 11.9 million grains of rice,
representing the lives of the various ethnic groups lost in the Great
Holocaust during World War II, was one of the moving artworks displayed
at the second annual Interfaith Service Against Genocide, co-hosted by
Sts. Vartanantz Armenian Church in Chelmsford and the Greater Lowell
Interfaith Leadership Alliance (GLILA). Muslims, Jews, Orthodox
Christians, Catholics, Protestants, non-denominational Christians,
and Buddhists were all invited to hold a handful of rice in their palm,
pause, reflect, and stand together against genocide in all forms. The
rice, weighing 525 pounds, was later donated to the Pine Street Inn,
a homeless shelter serving the Greater Boston Community.
Participants gather at the Genocides Memorial on the plaza at Sts.
Vartanantz Church for final prayer in remembrance of all genocide
victims.
Prior to the service, approximately 80 people viewed a documentary on
the Armenian Genocide, which detailed the horrific story of the mass
murder of 1.5 million Armenian men, women, and children during World
War I by the Young Turk government. The one-hour film was at times
difficult to watch, as many present were in disbelief of the misery
and suffering experienced during the genocide. "I never realized that
an event with such devastation ever befell the Armenian population
in Turkey," remarked Dr. Stephen Fisher, a spiritual psychologist
and member of GLILA sub-committee responsible for planning the event.
Deacon Ara Jeknavorian of Sts. Vartanantz Church began the Interfaith
Service by noting that the joint commemoration of genocides and
tragic events with a massive loss of lives began last year with
a vision by Rabbi Dawn Rose of the Temple Emmanuel in Lowell, who
wished to expand the annual Holocaust Remembrance Day to include all
ethnic groups that have suffered some form of genocide. Jeknavorian
remarked that this extension to other ethnic groups was to emphasize
the understanding that man's inhumanity to man has no geographic or
historical boundaries. Furthermore, the healing within our own ethnic
experiences can be complimented through better understanding of each
other's genocide experience and its aftermath.
Welcoming remarks were offered by Farook Taufik, co-president of GLILA
and representing the Islamic Society of Greater Lowell, and Rev. Fr.
Khachatur Kesablyan, the pastor of Sts. Vartanantz Armenian Church.
Father Khachatur expressed his heartfelt appreciation to GLILA for
the opportunity to host this second annual commemorative event, as
well as the opportunity to allow the Armenian community to share
firsthand the continued pain caused by the Armenian Genocide. He
further commented on how this commemorative event has brought the
general community together to pray for healing and initiate a call
for action against future genocides.
The interfaith service then proceeded with five presentations from
various victim groups. Representing a relatively unknown American
Indian group, the Miknak tribe of Vermont, was "grandma" Judy, a
tribal elder who described forced sterilization of the female tribe
members in order to eliminate indigenous native populations during
the 20th century.
A remembrance of the Cambodian Genocide was expressed by Niem Nay-Kret,
a bilingual, bi-cultural behavioral field specialist specializing
in healing for genocide survivors; Ven. Sao Khon, president of the
Lowell Community of Khmer Buddhist Monks; and Brandon W. Eang, a
graphic design teacher at Westford Academy, who provided an eyewitness
account of the mass murder of innocent Cambodian citizens.
Prayers were also for victims of the Cambodian Genocide.
Rabbi Dawn Rose, along with congregants from the Temple Emanuel of
Lowell, offered prayers and the chant "Ani Maamin" ("I believe")
in remembrance of the Jewish Holocaust. Some 70 labor concentration
camps were cited, where over 4.3 million Jews and other ethnic groups
were murdered.
Ryuoh Faulconer, Shonin, Nichiren Buddhist Sangha of Greater New
England, Ryusho Jeffus, Shonin, Myosho Temple, North Carolina, and
Kairen Warren chanted prayers for the tragic deaths resulting from
the atomic bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Deacon Jeknavorian began the presentation on the Armenian Genocide by
highlighting that the absence of recognition and justice has been a
contributing factor for subsequent genocides. ACYOA member Sam Balian,
a member of the church's youth group, offered a reflection on the
responsibility of today's youth to honor the memory of the Armenian
martyrs by taking on the responsibility of demanding recognition from
Turkey. Father Khachatur, deacons, and the choir then conducted a
Requiem Service praying for the souls of all victims of genocide.
The entire congregation sang a verse of "Der Voghormya" ("Lord Have
Mercy") chant following each presentation as a unified expression of
healing for each victim group.
The inter-faith program concluded with a prayer and the laying of
carnations by the Armenian Genocide Memorial on the church's plaza. A
reception followed in the Kazanjian Pavilion, where numerous brochures
and information tables were available for those seeking further
information about genocide issues.
From: A. Papazian
Armenian Weekly
May 22, 2012
CHELMSFORD, Mass.-A display of 11.9 million grains of rice,
representing the lives of the various ethnic groups lost in the Great
Holocaust during World War II, was one of the moving artworks displayed
at the second annual Interfaith Service Against Genocide, co-hosted by
Sts. Vartanantz Armenian Church in Chelmsford and the Greater Lowell
Interfaith Leadership Alliance (GLILA). Muslims, Jews, Orthodox
Christians, Catholics, Protestants, non-denominational Christians,
and Buddhists were all invited to hold a handful of rice in their palm,
pause, reflect, and stand together against genocide in all forms. The
rice, weighing 525 pounds, was later donated to the Pine Street Inn,
a homeless shelter serving the Greater Boston Community.
Participants gather at the Genocides Memorial on the plaza at Sts.
Vartanantz Church for final prayer in remembrance of all genocide
victims.
Prior to the service, approximately 80 people viewed a documentary on
the Armenian Genocide, which detailed the horrific story of the mass
murder of 1.5 million Armenian men, women, and children during World
War I by the Young Turk government. The one-hour film was at times
difficult to watch, as many present were in disbelief of the misery
and suffering experienced during the genocide. "I never realized that
an event with such devastation ever befell the Armenian population
in Turkey," remarked Dr. Stephen Fisher, a spiritual psychologist
and member of GLILA sub-committee responsible for planning the event.
Deacon Ara Jeknavorian of Sts. Vartanantz Church began the Interfaith
Service by noting that the joint commemoration of genocides and
tragic events with a massive loss of lives began last year with
a vision by Rabbi Dawn Rose of the Temple Emmanuel in Lowell, who
wished to expand the annual Holocaust Remembrance Day to include all
ethnic groups that have suffered some form of genocide. Jeknavorian
remarked that this extension to other ethnic groups was to emphasize
the understanding that man's inhumanity to man has no geographic or
historical boundaries. Furthermore, the healing within our own ethnic
experiences can be complimented through better understanding of each
other's genocide experience and its aftermath.
Welcoming remarks were offered by Farook Taufik, co-president of GLILA
and representing the Islamic Society of Greater Lowell, and Rev. Fr.
Khachatur Kesablyan, the pastor of Sts. Vartanantz Armenian Church.
Father Khachatur expressed his heartfelt appreciation to GLILA for
the opportunity to host this second annual commemorative event, as
well as the opportunity to allow the Armenian community to share
firsthand the continued pain caused by the Armenian Genocide. He
further commented on how this commemorative event has brought the
general community together to pray for healing and initiate a call
for action against future genocides.
The interfaith service then proceeded with five presentations from
various victim groups. Representing a relatively unknown American
Indian group, the Miknak tribe of Vermont, was "grandma" Judy, a
tribal elder who described forced sterilization of the female tribe
members in order to eliminate indigenous native populations during
the 20th century.
A remembrance of the Cambodian Genocide was expressed by Niem Nay-Kret,
a bilingual, bi-cultural behavioral field specialist specializing
in healing for genocide survivors; Ven. Sao Khon, president of the
Lowell Community of Khmer Buddhist Monks; and Brandon W. Eang, a
graphic design teacher at Westford Academy, who provided an eyewitness
account of the mass murder of innocent Cambodian citizens.
Prayers were also for victims of the Cambodian Genocide.
Rabbi Dawn Rose, along with congregants from the Temple Emanuel of
Lowell, offered prayers and the chant "Ani Maamin" ("I believe")
in remembrance of the Jewish Holocaust. Some 70 labor concentration
camps were cited, where over 4.3 million Jews and other ethnic groups
were murdered.
Ryuoh Faulconer, Shonin, Nichiren Buddhist Sangha of Greater New
England, Ryusho Jeffus, Shonin, Myosho Temple, North Carolina, and
Kairen Warren chanted prayers for the tragic deaths resulting from
the atomic bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Deacon Jeknavorian began the presentation on the Armenian Genocide by
highlighting that the absence of recognition and justice has been a
contributing factor for subsequent genocides. ACYOA member Sam Balian,
a member of the church's youth group, offered a reflection on the
responsibility of today's youth to honor the memory of the Armenian
martyrs by taking on the responsibility of demanding recognition from
Turkey. Father Khachatur, deacons, and the choir then conducted a
Requiem Service praying for the souls of all victims of genocide.
The entire congregation sang a verse of "Der Voghormya" ("Lord Have
Mercy") chant following each presentation as a unified expression of
healing for each victim group.
The inter-faith program concluded with a prayer and the laying of
carnations by the Armenian Genocide Memorial on the church's plaza. A
reception followed in the Kazanjian Pavilion, where numerous brochures
and information tables were available for those seeking further
information about genocide issues.
From: A. Papazian