24.04.2018
Armenian Community Gathers to Remember Victims of Genocide
A service of remembrance marking the 103rd anniversary of the start of the Armenian Genocide took place in Christ Church Cathedral Dublin on Sunday evening (April 22). The service was organised by the Armenian Orthodox Church and Community in Ireland and their bishop, Bishop Hovakim Manukyan, travelled from London to preside. The service was attended by the Archbishop of Dublin, Dr Michael Jackson, Dean Dermot Dunne, and Fr Kieran McDermott, Administrator of St Mary’s Pro–Cathedral.
Following a welcome by the Dean, the service opened with a greeting from the chairperson of the Armenian Church and Community, Ayda Sarafian–Lundon.
The Honorary Consul of Armenia in Ireland, Ohan Yergainharsian, gave a history of the Armenian Genocide in which 1.5 million people died. He said that Armenian people worldwide gathered on or near April 24 each year to remember and honour the lives of their ancestors who died in the genocide and to celebrate the survival of those who went on to build anew and create afresh and to contribute to Armenia and their communities around the world. He said many countries had recognised the Armenian Genocide and called on Ireland to do the same.
Dr John Paul Newman, a lecturer in Twentieth Century European History in Maynooth University, spoke about the parallels between the Armenian Genocide and the Balkans who were also part of the Ottoman Empire.
In his reflection, Bishop Hovakim Manukyan prayed for justice for the victims of the Armenian Genocide. He said that they continued to witness in hope that the victims of genocide would be recognised and remembered.
After the service, flowers were laid at the Armenian Khachkar Memorial in the grounds of Christ Church Cathedral.
