Thousands of Montreal Armenians Pay Tribute to their Forefathers at Saint Joseph Oratory

Thursday, April 22, 2010 Montreal's St. Joseph Oratory was filled to capacity with all who had come, around 3000 faithful, to pay homage to the memory of the 1.5 million Armenian victims of the first genocide of the 20th century.

The Armenian Apostolic, Catholic and Evangelical churches jointly organized the ecumenical commemoration of the 95th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Participating in the services were around 15 denominational churches, including the Catholic, Anglican, Orthodox and Evangelical churches.

The procession of the clergy was led by students of AGBU Alex Manoogian, Notre Dame de Nareg‎ and Sourp Hagop Armenian Schools of Montreal, and the scouts of AGBU and Homenetmen, while the Joint Choir of Montreal Armenians sang the traditional "Hrashapar" (Hymn of procession-Te Deum), directed by choirmaster Varuzhan Margaryan.

The welcoming and opening statement was delivered in French and Armenian by Very Reverend Father Kevork Yeghiayan. The religious ceremony began with the Lord's Prayer, recited by all in their respective languages. Prayers for this occasion were led by Montreal Cardinal Jean-Claude Cardinal Turcotte and the message of the day was delivered by the Most Reverend Bishop Barry Clarke of the Anglican Diocese of Montreal.

Each church leader took to the podium and delivered a prayer and a message in French or English, paid their respects to the victims of the Armenian Genocide, and condemned all acts of violence against humanity.

Between prayers, the 80-member Joint Choir of Montreal Armenians rendered spiritual songs in Armenian, as well as Mozart's Ave Verum (soloists Hasmik Gasparyan, Sandra Afeyan, Pierre Keork) and Lacrymosa-The Requiem Mass.

A candle-lit ceremony followed, as the students and scouts distributed the candlelight of the clergy to present the faithful. The lights of the cathedral were dimmed and the "Der Voghormia" (soloist Elie Berberian) hymn was sung by the entire congregation. A Holy Box containing the relics of victims of the Armenian Genocide, from the desert of Der Zor, was brought forth through a procession by Very Reverend Father Shenork Kasparian and placed on the Holy Altar.

The Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Montreal, Lord Barry Clarke, was the keynote speaker of the ecumenical service. His Grace lauded the Armenian Church as the most ancient one in Christendom and presented an overview of the historical events of the Armenian Genocide. He said, "It is important to remember, because there can be no real hope without memory; and it is clear that we have not sufficiently remembered, nor learnt from those dreadful events nor from the failure of the community of nations to respond to them appropriately. There can be no healing, reconciliation and justice for Armenians, if the genocide is not fully acknowledged and responsibility for it accepted. Without it, there is no basis for the rebuilding of trust and a more secure future in the community of nations."

His Grace continued “Our presence here tonight keeps alive the voices from the grave, united with the martyrs, the angels, the archangels and the whole company of saints shouting for release that liberates the captives and sets them free. The plea of these voices is our mission entrusted to us by God to be a people empowered to bring about the necessary reconciliation and justice in order that the wounds and scars we carry for past generations of women, men, and children may be healed. Tonight we hear the voices from the grave of the men, women, and children of this Armenian Genocide to heed God’s voice and respond by doing justice, loving kindness and walking humbly with God. Amen.”

Mr. Chahe Tanachian was invited to read the Statement of the Right Honorable Stephen Harper on the occasion of the 95th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Mr. Tanachian informed the public that on Wednesday, April 21, 2010, representatives of four major political parties in the Parliament of Canada delivered statements. MP Harold Albrecht from the ruling Conservative party and Chair of Canada-Armenia Parliamentary friendship group declared the following in the House of Commons; “Mr. Speaker, I rise today as Chair of the Canada-Armenia Parliamentary Friendship Group to remember the Armenian Genocide of 1915…The Armenian Genocide was recognized by the Senate in 2002, by this House in 2004, and first commemorated by the Government of Canada in 2006. The Armenian Canadian community has contributed greatly to Canada's culture and economy. I applaud their efforts to acknowledge their past while looking forward to the future to build bridges based on mutual respect. Mr. Speaker, by recognizing and remembering the Armenian Genocide, we should all be motivated to do everything in our power to ensure that such a terrible tragedy never happens again."

The memorable Martyrs' prayer and ecumenical service ended with “Cilicia” and "Etchmiadzin I Hore" hymns by a procession of clergy presided by Archbishop Khajag Hagopian and Bishop Bagrat Galstanian.

Annex

Representatives of many religious denominations offered their prayers for the victims of genocide, including:
• Jean Claude Cardinal Turcotte, Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Montreal
• Bishop Barry Clarke, Anglican Diocese of Montreal
• Bishop Ibrahim Ibrahim, Greek Melkite Catholic Eparch
• Bishop Alexander Mufarrij, Antiochian Orthodox Church
• Mgr. Joseph Khoury, Maronite Church
• Bishop Ioan Cassian, Romanian Orthodox Church
• Mgr. Louis Al-Dairany, Chaldeen Church
• Rev. Canon David Oliver, Anglican Diocese of Montreal
• Very Rev. Father Jack Yakoub, Syriac Orthodox Church
• Very Rev. Father Raphael Bichara, Coptic Orthodox Church
• Very Rev. Father Arsanios Serry, Coptic Orthodox Church
• Reverend Father Fadi Atallah, Syriac Catholic Church
• Deacon Anthony Mansour, Montreal Center of Ecumenism

Clergy of the Armenian Apostolic, Catholic and Evangelical Churches
• Very Rev. Father George Zabarian (Catholic)
• Very Rev. Father George Yeghiayayn (Catholic)
• Verabadveli Jean Zarifian (Evangelical)
• Verabadveli Manuel Jinbachian (Evangelical)
• Verabadveli George Dabbo (Evangelical)
• Very Rev. Father Shenork Kasparian (Apostolic)
• Very Rev. Father Abgar Hovakimyan (Apostolic)
• Reverend Father Hrayr Nicolian (Apostolic)
• Reverend Father Vazgen Boyajyan (Apostolic)
• Reverend Father Karnig Koyounian (Apostolic)
• Reverend Father Myron Sarkissian (Apostolic)
• Reverend Father Komitas Mirzakhanyan (Apostolic)

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