Thousands gather in Armenia to commemorate Armenian Genocide; Syriac Catholic Patriarch Younan joins memorial activities in Lebanon

YEREVAN / BEIRUT — On 23 April, nearly 10,000 people carrying candles gathered in Yerevan, the capital of Armenia, to remember the lives lost during the genocide committed by the Ottoman Empire over a century ago. The march started from Central Republic Square and ended at a memorial complex, where attendees laid flowers over the Martyrs’ Monument.

Before the march began, activists burned the flags of Turkey and Azerbaijan in response to calls by Yerevan activists to reject policies of genocide against people and remember the crimes committed against the Armenians. The atrocities claimed the lives of nearly 1.5 million Armenians.

Meanwhile, in Lebanon, Syriac Catholic Patriarch Mar Ignatius Youssef III Younan joined the activities of the 108th anniversary of the Armenian genocide at the invitation of Armenian Catholic Patriarch Raphael Bedros XXI Minassian.

Patriarch Younan participated in the pontifical procession from the Armenian Catholic Patriarchate’s seat to St. Gregory’s School yard in Beirut’s Ashrafieh district. He also joined a Divine Liturgy held in front of a large crowd. Other attendees from the Syriac Catholic Church included General Vicar of the Patriarchal Archdiocese of Beirut Mar Matthias Charles Murad and General Patriarchal Custodian and the Patriarch’s Secretary Monsignor Habib Murad.

Patriarch Minassian expressed gratitude to Patriarch Younan for his participation and wished him success in all his future endeavors, as well as prosperity for the Syriac Church.