Genocide of the Armenian People in Early 20th Century Recorded as First Crime Against Humanity of the Century, Says Karekin II

His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, has sent a message on the occasion of the Day of Remembrance of the Holy Martyrs of the Armenian Genocide.

In his message, he stated, “It has been more than a century since the Armenian Genocide, planned and executed by the Ottoman Empire. Our people, devastated by genocide, scattered across the world, leaving behind a million and a half martyrs in their historical homeland and in the deserts of exile. The genocide of the Armenian people in the early 20th century is recorded as the first crime against humanity of the century, characterized by the monstrous manifestations of ethnic hostility and extermination of a nation.”

The pain of the genocide tragedy has been newly felt by our people's soul, layered upon the heavy losses from the Artsakh war. It is our sacred duty to strengthen national unity in the light of our holy martyrs' memory, to avoid violence and conflicts in domestic developments, and to diligently pursue the protection of our rights.

The sense of high responsibility to strengthen the state, and unifying around national and spiritual values, is the guarantee to embellish our people’s life with achievements and to confront the challenges and threats before us. We pray, with the intercession of our holy martyrs, to the Lord Almighty, that our country may be peaceful and secure, and that our globally dispersed people may unite to build a prosperous and bright future for the sake of the nation and the homeland.”