Australian Anglican Church to host memorial for the Sayfo Genocide in Melbourne

Melbourne — The Anglican Church in Melbourne, Australia, has announced plans to host a memorial service commemorating the 110th anniversary of the Sayfo Genocide, in which Syriacs (Assyrians-Chaldeans-Arameans), Greeks, and Armenians were killed under the Ottoman Empire. The memorial service to honor the memory of the victims will take place on April 6 at St. Peter’s Church in Melbourne.

The memorial is being organized with the support of the Joint Justice Initiative, a coalition representing the three peoples most affected by the genocide. The initiative includes the Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC-AU), The Australian Hellenic Council (AHC), and the Assyrian Universal Alliance in Australia (AUA–Australia).

Following the church service, the ANC-AU will present an honorary plaque to Archbishop Philip Freier, recognizing the Anglican Church’s longstanding commitment for advocating the rights of persecuted communities.

As part of the commemoration, the event will also pay tribute to individuals who played a role in supporting Christian survivors of the Genocide. Among them is Edith May Glanville (1871–1966), who was involved in humanitarian efforts for victims of the atrocities. 

The memorial will be attended by members of the Victorian Parliament and religious leaders from the Syriac (Assyrian-Aramean-Chaldean), Greek, and Armenian communities in Australia. 

A representative of a Greek organization expressed gratitude to both the Anglican Church and the people of the state of Victoria for their continued support in recognizing the Sayfo Genocide. The official also emphasized the importance of passing down the history of these events to future generations, ensuring that full recognition and justice for the victims remain a priority.