Armenian Apostolic Holy Church Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin

On April 24, the Day of Remembrance of the Holy Martyrs of the Armenian Genocide, the Holy and Immortal Divine Liturgy was celebrated at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, in the Cathedral of the Descent of the Only-Begotten, presided over by His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians. On this occasion, the reliquary containing the sacred relics of the Holy Martyrs was brought forth for the veneration of the faithful.

The Divine Liturgy was celebrated by the Rev. Archimandrite Fr. Garegin Hambardzumyan, Director of the Department of Inter-Church Relations of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.

In his homily, reflecting upon the spiritual meaning of the day, the Reverend Father noted in particular:

“Today we remember the Holy Martyrs of the Armenian Genocide, whose memory for us is not a museum of sorrow to which one comes once a year only to remember and then consign to forgetfulness. They were not merely victims of history, but its witnesses. Today, as we turn to the memory of the Holy Martyrs, we stand not before the silence of death, but before the living testimony of faith, for they chose faith.”
Fr. Garegin emphasized that in the lives of the martyrs was revealed a faith that could not be broken, a love that did not yield to hatred, and a hope that no empire could destroy.

“Our martyrs did not know what the future of the Church would be. They did not know that in time new generations would arise, that ruined churches would be restored, and that the Church would flourish and be strengthened in faith.
It was not given to them to know these things; yet, standing at the gates of death, they embraced the words of Christ: ‘I am the life.’
Yes, Christ is the true life, and only in Christ is true life.
And with this certainty, they received the crown of martyrdom.”
The celebrant added that the mission of the Holy Martyrs is to strengthen us in Christian life and faith.

In conclusion, the Reverend Father expressed the prayer that the example of the saints, who passed through the way of suffering and martyrdom, may become a living witness in the lives of the faithful children of the Armenian nation, so that they may never fall into despair or hopelessness, but, embracing the faith of Christ, may ever render unto Him glory and worship.

At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, a procession of clergy bearing the reliquary containing the relics of the Holy Martyrs proceeded to the courtyard of the Cathedral, where, before the Cross-Stone (Khachkar) of Prayer and Vow, and presided over by the Catholicos of All Armenians, an intercessory service was offered for the Holy Martyrs of the Armenian Genocide.