St. Mark’s Syriac Orthodox Cathedral holds memorial service for victims of 1915 Sayfo Genocide

PARAMUS, New Jersey, USA — A solemn memorial prayer service was held on Friday at the St. Mark’s Syriac Orthodox Cathedral in Paramus, New Jersey, USA, to honor the memory of the Syriac martyrs of the 1915 Sayfo Genocide, during which hundreds of thousands of Syriacs (Arameans–Assyrians–Chaldeans), Armenians, and Greeks were killed by the forces of the Ottoman Empire and allied Kurdish tribes. 

Organized at the invitation of Patriarchal Vicar of the Syriac Orthodox Archdiocese of the Eastern United States Archbishop Mor Dionysius John Kawak, the service brought together faith leaders and community members to commemorate the lives lost and emphasize the importance of remembrance.

Among those in attendance were Archbishop Mesrob Parsamyan of the Armenian Apostolic Church Archbishop of the Eastern Diocese in the United States Mesrob Parsamyan, Bishop of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of Egypt (Ethiopia, Sudan, South Africa) Ashot Mnatsakanyan, Syriac Orthodox clergy, and a large gathering of parishioners. 

The service opened with prayers, after which Archbishop Kawak delivered a poignant address. He underscored the significance of educating future generations about the Sayfo Genocide to prevent the recurrence of such atrocities.

Archbishop Parsamyan presented a scholarly paper titled The 1915 Genocide: Martyrs for Christ, shedding light on the historical and spiritual dimensions of the tragedy. Richard Ghazal, Executive Director of In Defense of Christians, provided insights into the broader context of Christian persecution during that era. 

The evening concluded with a candle-lighting ceremony at the Sayfo Memorial on the cathedral grounds, symbolizing hope and remembrance. A fellowship gathering in the church hall followed, where attendees shared reflections on the need for unity among Christian communities and continued advocacy for historical recognition of the genocide. 

The event served as a powerful reminder of the resilience of faith communities and the enduring commitment to honor the memory of the Sayfo martyrs while promoting justice and reconciliation.