Prelate Participates in “In Defense of Christians” Annual Summit

On Wednesday, September 23, 2020, “In Defense of Christians” hosted its 7th annual national advocacy summit in Washington D.C., which this year was held digitally due to the Coronavirus pandemic. The annual summit brings together members of the Middle Eastern Christian Diaspora, Christian religious leaders from the Middle East and across the world, members of Congress and of human rights organizations to combat the ongoing persecution of Christians in the Middle East. The Western Prelacy and Armenian National Committee of America were among this year’s sponsors.

H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate, who is a member of the IDC Religious Advisory Board, took part in the summit with a taped message of solidarity and support.

In his message, His Eminence noted that “tribulations faced by Christians are not limited to the Middle East but is rampant in various regions around the world. Increased hostilities and appalling acts of violence against Christians, many reaching the classification of Genocide, have caused the death, imprisonment, and suffering of millions, the emigration of millions more from the region, and the destruction of Churches and holy sites. In the Middle East in particular, the birthplace of Christianity, Christians have been a major component of the fabric of society for millennia. As people of faith and people of conscience, we cannot stand idly by while our brothers and sisters continue to be attacked, oppressed, discriminated against, and driven from their ancestral lands on account of their faith,” stressed the Prelate.

His Eminence added that the Armenian people are all too familiar with the happenings in the Middle East today. “Throughout our history, our religious and national identity, and indeed our very existence, has been threatened time and time again, culminating in the Armenian Genocide of 1915. Through all our persecutions and sufferings, our forefathers remained steadfast in faith and hope, and we rose again. Our brothers and sisters in the Middle East will too, rise again, with our collective support and solidarity, with our prayers and action.”

The Prelate concluded his message by commending the dedicated leadership and members of “In Defense of Christians” who are leading the charge to raise awareness of the plight of Christians in the Middle East. He prayed for the Lord to guide them in their noble mission and lead us all to the realization of a world where all peoples of all faiths, creeds, and ethnicities can coexist in peace and mutual respect. He prayed in particular for peace, stability, and prosperity for the people of Lebanon who have endured one crisis after another in the past year.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8FuZUHLMzA

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