Masses in Damascus commemorating Ottoman Massacres 99th Anniversary against Armenians
DAMASCUS,(ST)_ Commemorating the 99th anniversary of the Ottoman massacres committed against of Armenians during which 1.5 million Armenians were slaughtered in 1915, a Mass was held yesterday in Mar Sarkis Armenian Orthodox Church, chaired by Bishop Armash Nalbandian.
Participated in the Mass were Bishop Joseph Arnaaouti Armenian Catholic bishop, heads and representatives of Christian communities and the papal ambassador in Damascus.
Bishop Nalbandian noted the doubled loss inflicted when two-thirds of the Armenians were exterminated and others were snatched from their homeland of an ancient history that extends for more than five thousand years.
” We must also mention our partners in the blood of the victims of the Ottoman genocide, including the Syriacs, Chaldeans and Greece who had suffered murder, deportation and displacement at the hands of the same Turkish executioner.”Bishop Nalbandian said,
“Commemorating this anniversary in Damascus on the beloved Syrian territory implies an additional meaning because this land was the good haven, sanctuary and salvation for the Armenian people who survived the horrible massacres”, he continued adding that for the Armenian people, Syria becomes equal to the meaning of the resurrection and the life, because it was the bridge over which our ancestors crossed from death into the home to life.”
Nalbandian added that the Arab people in Syria has become partners of the Armenian people in life, martyrdom and the fight against the Ottoman executioner, recalling the Ottoman ” massacres of April 24th 1915 and the executions of May 1st by the Ottoman against Liberals and intellectuals in both Damascus and Beirut,” calling on world and Arab countries and Syria, in particular to recognize Armenian Genocide and calling for accountability of the modern Turkish state, the crime heiress to bear the consequences..
Then, Bishops Ernaaouti and Nalbandian laid a wreath on the memorial of the victims of the Armenian massacres in the courtyard of Mar Sarkis church, with Armenian Boy Scout band played the national anthems of Syria and Armenia.
A similar mass, highlighting the occasion was also held in Sultana Church of the Armenian Catholics in Damascus
Marking the occasion, Bishop Krikor Augustine Kusa of Alexandria Armenian Catholics in Egypt, stressed that thanks to her steadfastness and unity of its people, army and leadership, Syria will defeat terrorism, hatred and injustice and will remain as it was throughout its history, the cradle of civilization love, and peace.
“Syria, who embraced the Armenians before 99 years, following unprecedented massacres and brutality at the hands of the sultans of the Ottoman Empire, that claimed the lives 1.5 million Armenians, is offering dearly today to protect them and all her people again against new massacres at the hands of Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the Turkish criminal government.
T. Fateh