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PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Tel: (+961- 4) 410001, 410003
Fax: (+961- 4) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web: www.armenianorthodoxchurch.org
PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon
PONTIFICAL ENCYCLICAL BY HIS HOLINESS ARAM I
DEDICATED TO THE CENTENARY OF
THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
2015 is not just another year. As the 100th Anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide, it carries a special meaning, a special message and a special
purpose. Every Armenian and the entire nation should reflect on the
unique significance and special importance of the occasion.
The Armenian Genocide has left its permanent scar on the common memory
of the Armenian people. There is not a single Armenian on earth who has
not had the Genocide blended with his blood and cemented with his life.
There is no Armenian family on earth who has not been affected by the
Genocide and its repercussions.
For one hundred years, we have remembered with prayers and vigils our
one and a half million martyrs who were the victims of a carefully
planned and systematically executed genocide of the Ottoman-Turkish
government in Western Armenia and Cilicia.
For one hundred years, we have remembered with grieving hearts and
indignation the perpetrators' destruction of our centuries-old
cultural and religious treasures, our monasteries and churches,
manuscripts and cross-stones and many more sacred artefacts.
For one hundred years, we have remembered with unrelenting spirit the
confiscation of thousands of our national, church and personal
properties by Turkey.
As a consequence of the 1915 Genocide and deportations, towns and
villages in both historic Western Armenia and Cilicia, which had been
inhabited by the Armenian people for centuries and which prospered with
their creative spirit, were emptied of Armenians. The intention of the
Ottoman authorities was to exterminate the Armenians and wipe out
Armenia from the world map. How well the words of the Psalmist apply to
the death and destruction caused by the Genocide: "O God, the heathen
are come into thine inheritance; thy holy temple have they defiled; they
have laid Jerusalem on heaps. The dead bodies of thy servants have they
given to be meant unto the fowls of heaven, the flesh of thy saints unto
the beasts of the earth. Their blood have they shed like water round
about Jerusalem; and there was none to bury them" (Psalm 79: 1-3).
Uprooted from their ancestral lands, the children of this refugee and
orphaned nation have neither forgotten the memory of their martyrs nor
have they forsaken their legacy. They heard Christ's message: "And fear
not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but
rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell"
(Math. 10:28). Motivated by this conviction and reinvigorated with the
anticipation of a new beginning, they engaged in community-building.
Thus, they restructured both their private and communal lives; they
erected schools and churches; they founded new organizations across the
Diaspora. Furthermore, they reminded Turkey and the international
community of the unpunished Genocide and demanded justice.
Throughout the past hundred years, our church, committees of the
Armenian cause, our political organizations and, during the past two
decades, the government of the Republic of Armenia, have worked hard for
the recognition of the Genocide, mainly through inter-church,
inter-religious and political contacts and lobbying. A large number of
states, churches and organizations have formally recognized the Armenian
Genocide. Many Armenian and non-Armenian scholars, who have published
studies on the Genocide, have stressed the crucial importance of
recognizing the first genocide of the 20th Century.
Hence, despite tremendous difficulties, our nation has remained faithful
to the sacred legacy of our martyrs, recalling the Psalmist, "If I
forget thee , O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning. If I do
not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if
prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy" (Psalm 137: 5-6).
Indeed, for one hundred years, our valiant generations remembered their
martyrs and sought to open the dispassionate hearts and minds of
humanity, challenging people of good will and those concerned with
justice and respect of human rights to recognize the Armenian Genocide
and the legitimate rights of their nation.
Beloved Armenians,
Our people must continue this sacred struggle with strong determination
and profound faith. The time has come for us to explore new perspectives
and grounds within the bounds of international law, and to pursue our
claims for reparation and recovery of our violated human rights in a
more structured and comprehensive way.
The Genocide Convention clearly states that the perpetrators of
genocide, be they individuals, organizations or states, should appear
before the International Court of Justice. International law also
indicates that the recognition of genocide implies reparation. Hence,
the recognition of the Armenian Genocide should not be considered the
ultimate aim of the Armenian Cause. Recognition and compensation are
closely inter-connected and, therefore, they should constitute the basis
and target of our claims. Although Turkey is using its political and
economic influence to frustrate this process, our people are called upon
to continue their journey with greater conviction and deeper commitment.
The Armenians in Armenia, Karabagh and the Diaspora are preparing to
commemorate the Centenary of the Genocide with a profound sense of
responsibility and firm determination. This should not be an ordinary
commemoration, a repetition of the past; it should stand out as a
turning point by breaking new ground and opening new horizons. The
Centenary is a defining moment in our people's rightful campaign for the
restoration of their legitimate rights. This coming 23rd April 2015 the
two Catholicoi of the Armenian Church shall jointly preside, in Holy
Etchmiadzin, over the canonization of our Martyrs, which will be a
unique event within the sphere of the Centenary commemoration.
It is vitally important, as we look beyond the Centenary, to recognize
that the world is volatile and that geopolitical realities and interests
often compel us to reassess our tactics and approaches. We must remain
vigilant and united.
The Armenian Cause is the cause of the entire Armenian nation; it is the
cause of our martyrs; it is the cause of future generations. Hence,
every Armenian is called to contribute to the collective effort to
restore our violated human rights.
Hence, we call upon
=95 Our dioceses, to solemnly commemorate the memory of our martyrs by
organizing public events and activities,
=95 Our community organizations, to plan together and through their
contacts and networks, to advocate for our just cause.
=95 Our schools, to convey through lectures and seminars to Armenian
students the true spirit and message of the Centenary of the Armenian
Genocide.
=95 Our intellectuals, to carry out research and to publish works on
different aspects of the Armenian Genocide.
=95 Our entire nation, to play a proactive role in the promotion of the
Armenian Cause, which is indeed a cause of justice.
Let the memory of our one-and-a-half million martyrs live always amongst
us and let their legacy remain vivid in our personal and communal lives.
Empowered by our Christian faith and strengthened with the memory and
message of our martyrs, let us forge the future of our youth.
May the blessing of the Father, the love of the Son, and the grace of
the Holy Spirit be with you all, Amen.
ARAM I
CATHOLICOS OF THE
HOLY SEE OF CILICIA
Antelias, Lebanon
1 January 2015
Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
PO Box : 70 317 Antelias - LEBANON
Tel: (+961-4) 410 001 / 3
Fax: (+961-4) 419724
E-mail: [email protected]
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Tel: (+961- 4) 410001, 410003
Fax: (+961- 4) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web: www.armenianorthodoxchurch.org
PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon
PONTIFICAL ENCYCLICAL BY HIS HOLINESS ARAM I
DEDICATED TO THE CENTENARY OF
THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
2015 is not just another year. As the 100th Anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide, it carries a special meaning, a special message and a special
purpose. Every Armenian and the entire nation should reflect on the
unique significance and special importance of the occasion.
The Armenian Genocide has left its permanent scar on the common memory
of the Armenian people. There is not a single Armenian on earth who has
not had the Genocide blended with his blood and cemented with his life.
There is no Armenian family on earth who has not been affected by the
Genocide and its repercussions.
For one hundred years, we have remembered with prayers and vigils our
one and a half million martyrs who were the victims of a carefully
planned and systematically executed genocide of the Ottoman-Turkish
government in Western Armenia and Cilicia.
For one hundred years, we have remembered with grieving hearts and
indignation the perpetrators' destruction of our centuries-old
cultural and religious treasures, our monasteries and churches,
manuscripts and cross-stones and many more sacred artefacts.
For one hundred years, we have remembered with unrelenting spirit the
confiscation of thousands of our national, church and personal
properties by Turkey.
As a consequence of the 1915 Genocide and deportations, towns and
villages in both historic Western Armenia and Cilicia, which had been
inhabited by the Armenian people for centuries and which prospered with
their creative spirit, were emptied of Armenians. The intention of the
Ottoman authorities was to exterminate the Armenians and wipe out
Armenia from the world map. How well the words of the Psalmist apply to
the death and destruction caused by the Genocide: "O God, the heathen
are come into thine inheritance; thy holy temple have they defiled; they
have laid Jerusalem on heaps. The dead bodies of thy servants have they
given to be meant unto the fowls of heaven, the flesh of thy saints unto
the beasts of the earth. Their blood have they shed like water round
about Jerusalem; and there was none to bury them" (Psalm 79: 1-3).
Uprooted from their ancestral lands, the children of this refugee and
orphaned nation have neither forgotten the memory of their martyrs nor
have they forsaken their legacy. They heard Christ's message: "And fear
not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but
rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell"
(Math. 10:28). Motivated by this conviction and reinvigorated with the
anticipation of a new beginning, they engaged in community-building.
Thus, they restructured both their private and communal lives; they
erected schools and churches; they founded new organizations across the
Diaspora. Furthermore, they reminded Turkey and the international
community of the unpunished Genocide and demanded justice.
Throughout the past hundred years, our church, committees of the
Armenian cause, our political organizations and, during the past two
decades, the government of the Republic of Armenia, have worked hard for
the recognition of the Genocide, mainly through inter-church,
inter-religious and political contacts and lobbying. A large number of
states, churches and organizations have formally recognized the Armenian
Genocide. Many Armenian and non-Armenian scholars, who have published
studies on the Genocide, have stressed the crucial importance of
recognizing the first genocide of the 20th Century.
Hence, despite tremendous difficulties, our nation has remained faithful
to the sacred legacy of our martyrs, recalling the Psalmist, "If I
forget thee , O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning. If I do
not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if
prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy" (Psalm 137: 5-6).
Indeed, for one hundred years, our valiant generations remembered their
martyrs and sought to open the dispassionate hearts and minds of
humanity, challenging people of good will and those concerned with
justice and respect of human rights to recognize the Armenian Genocide
and the legitimate rights of their nation.
Beloved Armenians,
Our people must continue this sacred struggle with strong determination
and profound faith. The time has come for us to explore new perspectives
and grounds within the bounds of international law, and to pursue our
claims for reparation and recovery of our violated human rights in a
more structured and comprehensive way.
The Genocide Convention clearly states that the perpetrators of
genocide, be they individuals, organizations or states, should appear
before the International Court of Justice. International law also
indicates that the recognition of genocide implies reparation. Hence,
the recognition of the Armenian Genocide should not be considered the
ultimate aim of the Armenian Cause. Recognition and compensation are
closely inter-connected and, therefore, they should constitute the basis
and target of our claims. Although Turkey is using its political and
economic influence to frustrate this process, our people are called upon
to continue their journey with greater conviction and deeper commitment.
The Armenians in Armenia, Karabagh and the Diaspora are preparing to
commemorate the Centenary of the Genocide with a profound sense of
responsibility and firm determination. This should not be an ordinary
commemoration, a repetition of the past; it should stand out as a
turning point by breaking new ground and opening new horizons. The
Centenary is a defining moment in our people's rightful campaign for the
restoration of their legitimate rights. This coming 23rd April 2015 the
two Catholicoi of the Armenian Church shall jointly preside, in Holy
Etchmiadzin, over the canonization of our Martyrs, which will be a
unique event within the sphere of the Centenary commemoration.
It is vitally important, as we look beyond the Centenary, to recognize
that the world is volatile and that geopolitical realities and interests
often compel us to reassess our tactics and approaches. We must remain
vigilant and united.
The Armenian Cause is the cause of the entire Armenian nation; it is the
cause of our martyrs; it is the cause of future generations. Hence,
every Armenian is called to contribute to the collective effort to
restore our violated human rights.
Hence, we call upon
=95 Our dioceses, to solemnly commemorate the memory of our martyrs by
organizing public events and activities,
=95 Our community organizations, to plan together and through their
contacts and networks, to advocate for our just cause.
=95 Our schools, to convey through lectures and seminars to Armenian
students the true spirit and message of the Centenary of the Armenian
Genocide.
=95 Our intellectuals, to carry out research and to publish works on
different aspects of the Armenian Genocide.
=95 Our entire nation, to play a proactive role in the promotion of the
Armenian Cause, which is indeed a cause of justice.
Let the memory of our one-and-a-half million martyrs live always amongst
us and let their legacy remain vivid in our personal and communal lives.
Empowered by our Christian faith and strengthened with the memory and
message of our martyrs, let us forge the future of our youth.
May the blessing of the Father, the love of the Son, and the grace of
the Holy Spirit be with you all, Amen.
ARAM I
CATHOLICOS OF THE
HOLY SEE OF CILICIA
Antelias, Lebanon
1 January 2015
Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
PO Box : 70 317 Antelias - LEBANON
Tel: (+961-4) 410 001 / 3
Fax: (+961-4) 419724
E-mail: [email protected]