Monday, April 24, will be observed by the worldwide Armenian Church as the “Feast of the Holy Martyrs of the Armenian Genocide.” Services at St. Vartan Cathedral will take place on Sunday, April 23, beginning at 10 a.m.
In 2015, the centennial year of the Armenian Genocide, the martyrs of 1915 were ceremonially recognized as holy saints. With their canonization, the Genocide martyrs joined other great exemplars of holiness, virtue, and sacrifice, in the “canon” of revered saints from church history.
This year, the Armenian faithful will be able to gather together safely in large numbers once again—in person with each other, and in the mystical company of our saints.
At St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral in New York, the Divine Liturgy will take place on Sunday, April 23, beginning at 10 a.m. It will be followed by the special “Prayer for the Holy Martyrs of the Armenian Genocide.” Cathedral Vicar Fr. Davit Karamyan will celebrate the badarak.
The service is open to the public, and will also be streamed over the St. Vartan Cathedral Facebook page.
Diocesan Primate Fr. Mesrop Parsamyan will preside over the cathedral service, and later take part in the 2023 Times Square Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide, which will be held live and in-person on Sunday, April 23, at 1:30 p.m., at 43rd St. and Broadway, in New York City. (Find additional details here.)
In communities across the Eastern Diocese, the Genocide commemoration is traditionally a time of intense activity. A number of in-person and online events are noted on this website under Upcoming Events.
Honor the day from your home by watching a special episode of the Diocese’s “Bread and Salt” series, which revisits the April 2015 canonization service, and explains the way we now regard the Holy Martyrs of 1915. Click here to view the video.
For a more in-depth look at the meaning of Christian sainthood and martyrdom, click on the link to “A Great Cloud of Witnesses.”
Keep apprised of inspirational messages, news, and updates here on the Eastern Diocese’s website, on our Facebook page, and on the website of Diocesan digital ministries, Vemkar.us.