On Friday, June 6, Diocesan Primate Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan joined clergy and faithful of the Syriac Orthodox Church for a solemn evening of remembrance and prayer.
The gathering at St. Mark’s Syriac Orthodox Cathedral in Paramus, NJ, commemorated the martyrs of the Sayfo Genocide of 1915: the mass murder and deportation of Syriac Christians by the Ottoman Empire, which went forward concurrently with the Ottoman’s Genocide of the Armenians. This year marked the 110th year of remembrance of the Sayfo—a name derived from the Syriac word for “sword.”
Archbishop Mor Dionysius John Kawak, the Patriarchal Vicar of the Syriac Orthodox Archdiocese of the Eastern U.S., led the commemoration, opening the evening with prayers of hope, followed by his meaningful words on the sacred duty to remember and speak the truth, from generation to generation.
Bishop Mesrop was a guest speaker for the occasion, presenting a reflection titled “1915 Genocide: Martyrs for Christ.”
“I was deeply humbled to present this offering of memory, love, and shared suffering that binds our churches together in holy witness,” Bishop Mesrop said. “Like the Armenian martyrs of 1915, the holy martyrs of the Sayfo Genocide—our Syriac brothers and sisters—gave their lives for their faith.”
Also speaking was Richard Ghazal, leader of the organization “In Defense of Christians,” who spoke on “The Sayfo and Christian Persecution Today.” He emphasized that the kind of persecution suffered in 1915 still exists in many parts of the world, and requires eternal vigilance from advocates for justice.
Following the presentations, Fr. Joseph Shammas moderated a discussion with the panelists and guests. Among the clergy dignitaries in attendance was Bishop Ashot Mnatsakanyan, Primate of the Armenian Diocese of Egypt, Ethiopia, Sudan, and South Africa.
The evening concluded with prayers at the Sayfo Memorial, and a heartfelt fellowship hour in the Mor Aphrem Center. “Let us continue to remember,” said Bishop Mesrop in remarks afterward. “Let us continue to speak. And let us always stand together in faith and say, Never again!”