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ARMENIAN CHURCH IN NEW BRITAIN TO HONOR GENOCIDE VICTIMS WITH REQUIEM, SPEAKERS PROGRAM
New Britain Herald, CT
April 24 2013
By SCOTT WHIPPLE
STAFF WRITER
NEW BRITAIN - On the evening of April 24, 1915, 300 Armenian political
leaders, educators, writers and clergy in Constantinople (present-day
Istanbul) were rousted from their homes by Turkish authorities,
jailed, tortured and later hanged or shot.
In the years that followed, two million Armenians living in Turkey were
killed or driven from their historic homelandThe Armenian Genocide
became the first genocide of the 20th Century.In New Britain, and in
other U.S. cities, Americans of Armenian descent mark the day each
year on April 24. Tonight, the Armenian Church of the Holy Resurrection
at 1910 Stanley St. will commemorate the day with a speaker's program
and solemn requiem services for departed loved ones.
Key speaker will be Southern Connecticut State University President
Mary Papazian, Ph.D. Local classical pianist Vahe Hovhannisyan will
perform and parish priest, Rev.Fr. Kapriel Mouradjian will offer
opening remarks. The program, free and open to the public, begins at
7 p.m. in the church sanctuary. A time of fellowship will follow.
Though few Americans of Armenian descent witnessed the brutality
98 years ago, parents of local law professor, Harry Mazadoorian,
witnessed the genocide and lived to tell about it.
The decision to annihilate the entire Armenian population came from
ultra-nationalist Young Turks. The actual extermination orders were
transmitted in coded telegrams to all provincial governors throughout
Turkey. When World War I broke out in 1914, leaders of the regime
sided with Germany and Austria-Hungary. The war became an opportunity
to solve the "Armenian question." once and for all, said Fr.
Mouradian.
According to Aremnian-Genocide.org, Turks disarmed the entire
Armenian population under the pretext that they were sympathetic
toward Christian Russia. Rifles and pistols were seized, with severe
penalties for anyone who failed to give them up.
Muslim Turks, who assumed ownership of everything, quickly occupied
most of the homes and villages left behind by Armenians. Children
spared from deportation were coerced into denouncing Christianity,
according to the website. They were forced to become Muslims, and
given Turkish names. For Armenian boys this forced conversion meant
they had to endure painful circumcision as required by Islamic custom.
Last Saturday, Armenians in the area gathered at the state Capitol in
Hartford to remember the Armenian Genocide. Mazadoorian says though
there has never been an acknowledgment or an apology from the Turkish
government, recently Turkish academics, journalists and humanitarians
have acknowledged that a genocide did happen.
"They want their government to end this charade and apologize,"
Mazadoorian said.
http://www.newbritainherald.com/articles/2013/04/23/news/doc5177425cc181f748589900.txt
From: Baghdasarian
New Britain Herald, CT
April 24 2013
By SCOTT WHIPPLE
STAFF WRITER
NEW BRITAIN - On the evening of April 24, 1915, 300 Armenian political
leaders, educators, writers and clergy in Constantinople (present-day
Istanbul) were rousted from their homes by Turkish authorities,
jailed, tortured and later hanged or shot.
In the years that followed, two million Armenians living in Turkey were
killed or driven from their historic homelandThe Armenian Genocide
became the first genocide of the 20th Century.In New Britain, and in
other U.S. cities, Americans of Armenian descent mark the day each
year on April 24. Tonight, the Armenian Church of the Holy Resurrection
at 1910 Stanley St. will commemorate the day with a speaker's program
and solemn requiem services for departed loved ones.
Key speaker will be Southern Connecticut State University President
Mary Papazian, Ph.D. Local classical pianist Vahe Hovhannisyan will
perform and parish priest, Rev.Fr. Kapriel Mouradjian will offer
opening remarks. The program, free and open to the public, begins at
7 p.m. in the church sanctuary. A time of fellowship will follow.
Though few Americans of Armenian descent witnessed the brutality
98 years ago, parents of local law professor, Harry Mazadoorian,
witnessed the genocide and lived to tell about it.
The decision to annihilate the entire Armenian population came from
ultra-nationalist Young Turks. The actual extermination orders were
transmitted in coded telegrams to all provincial governors throughout
Turkey. When World War I broke out in 1914, leaders of the regime
sided with Germany and Austria-Hungary. The war became an opportunity
to solve the "Armenian question." once and for all, said Fr.
Mouradian.
According to Aremnian-Genocide.org, Turks disarmed the entire
Armenian population under the pretext that they were sympathetic
toward Christian Russia. Rifles and pistols were seized, with severe
penalties for anyone who failed to give them up.
Muslim Turks, who assumed ownership of everything, quickly occupied
most of the homes and villages left behind by Armenians. Children
spared from deportation were coerced into denouncing Christianity,
according to the website. They were forced to become Muslims, and
given Turkish names. For Armenian boys this forced conversion meant
they had to endure painful circumcision as required by Islamic custom.
Last Saturday, Armenians in the area gathered at the state Capitol in
Hartford to remember the Armenian Genocide. Mazadoorian says though
there has never been an acknowledgment or an apology from the Turkish
government, recently Turkish academics, journalists and humanitarians
have acknowledged that a genocide did happen.
"They want their government to end this charade and apologize,"
Mazadoorian said.
http://www.newbritainherald.com/articles/2013/04/23/news/doc5177425cc181f748589900.txt
From: Baghdasarian