JOINT STATEMENT OF H.H. KAREKIN II AND H.H. ARAM I
ON THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE TO BE READ IN PRELACY CHURCHES
On the eve of the 98th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, Holy See of Etchmiadzin and His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of Cilicia, Holy See of Cilicia, issued a joint statement demanding from Turkey the return of confiscated churches and church properties.
In the statement, the Pontiffs issued the following demands:
1) That Turkey recognize the Armenian Genocide
2) That Turkey compensate Armenians for all their losses in human lives and human rights
3) That Turkey return the Armenian churches, monasteries, church properties and all spiritual and cultural monuments to their rightful and legal owners, the Armenian people
“On the threshold of the 100th Anniversary commemoration of the Armenian Genocide, we shall pursue together the rightful and legal demands for justice for the Armenian people”, concluded the statement.
By the ordinance of H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate, the joint statement will be read in Prelacy Churches during Divine Liturgy on Sunday, April 28. The Prelate will preside over Divine Liturgy at Holy Martyrs Church in Encino.
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PRELATE EXPRESSES SOLIDARITY ON
THE KIDNAPPING OF THE TWO ARCHBISHOPS IN SYRIA
Upon hearing the news of the kidnapping of Archbishop Yohanna Ibrahim of the Syriac Orthodox Archdiocese and Archbishop Paul Yazigi of the Greek Orthodox Church in Aleppo, on Tuesday, April 23rd the Prelate contacted H.E. Archbishop Mor Clemis Eugene Kaplan and H.E. Archbishop Joseph Zehlaoui of the Syriac and Antiochian Dioceses respectively to express solidarity and support.
The two Archbishops were kidnapped on Monday, April 22nd while on their way back to Aleppo from the Turkish border on a humanitarian mission.
We pray for the safe release of the Archbishops and for God to safeguard all the innocent citizens of Syria caught in the crossfire of the civil war.
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