Anglican Church of Australia calls on the government to recognize the 1915 Sayfo Genocide

MELBOURNE, Australia — The Anglican Archdiocese in Melbourne, Australia has joined calls for the 1915 Sayfo Genocide recognition by state government, along with Australian organizations, MPs and politicians, who put pressure on the government to recognize the 1915 Sayfo Genocide against the suffered by the Syriac (Aramean-Chaldean-Assyrian), Armenian and Pontic-Greek peoples during the first World War, by the Ottoman Empire.

The church’s joining came through an invitation addressed to the government, in which it stated that more than 3 million Armenian, Syriac (Aramean-Chaldean-Assyrian) and Pontic-Greek Orthodox Christians suffered from the systematic mass murder, expulsion and forced conversion beginning on 24 April 1915.

This population continues to be one of the most persecuted, dispossessed and scattered in the world.

In a letter to the Victorian government, Archbishop Philip Freier recalled the historical commitment Victoria showed those affected by the genocides.

When the atrocities occurred 110 years ago, the Melbourne archdiocese was on the forefront of raising funds and providing relief.

“It is a history that should inspire immense pride in our nation,” Archbishop Freier declared.

Leach stated that the VCC had written to parliament to recognize the simple justice of it.

He added that when such wounding events happened in history, they needed to be recognized as they were important to healing.

Executive Director of the Armenian National Committee of Australia Michael Kolokossian declared that many Armenian, Syriac and Greek Australians struggled to commemorate their history openly.

“Just as we have taken steps to honor and heal with Indigenous Australians, it is time for Victoria to stand with these communities, affirming their history and helping generations move toward peace and reconciliation,” he concluded.