MARTYROLOGY OF THE HOLY MARTYRS
OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

Since apostolic times Armenia has been enlightened by the radiance of divine light, the Light of a new and eternal life. Through the preaching of the Gospel of God’s Word by the apostles St. Thaddeus and St. Bartholomew and their heirs, and by the spilling of the blood of the saints, Armenia received Christ and the Armenian people became God’s people.
Sanctiﬁed by the fragrance of righteous Noah’s prayer wafting upward from the ﬁrst sacriﬁce on the altar built by him in Paradise under the watchful gaze of biblical Mount Ararat, our land became a perennial trampling ground for pagans and apostates, and was perpetually consecrated by the blood and valorous struggles of our people.
Our children became the living embodiment of the prophets and the apostles, and the humble companions of the witnesses to the faith who were martyred during the dreadful persecutions of the early centuries. Through the indescribable torment of being cruciﬁed with Christ, the Lord and Savior, they walked with him toward the Cross at Golgotha.
During the brutal years of the Armenian Genocide, the Armenian people bore fresh witness to their devotion to Christ. That crime was committed by the Turkish government. Through countless atrocities, remaining faithful to Christ, the Armenian people oﬀ ered praise and glory to God as they shared in Christ’s passion and became partners in the triumphant mystery of the Lord’s resurrection.
Following St. Ghevont and St. Vartan and their companions, they witnessed to Christianity as the religion of true and eternal life, inseparably united to our identity.
Raising their voices, they witnessed to their unshakable faith, proclaiming with the Apostle Paul that “No one can separate us from the love of Christ, neither torment, nor aﬄiction, nor persecution, nor famine, nor nakedness, nor danger, nor the sword, nor ﬁ re, nor death, nor life, nor the angels, nor the powers of evil spirits; neither the present, nor what is to come; no power of any kind, neither the supernal nor the lower worlds, nor some other creation. Nothing can separate us from the love of God, whom we have known through our Lord Jesus Christ” [cf. Romans 8:35-39].
They endured the physical torments of the father of their faith, their second enlightener, St. Gregory, to confess through him that they are his true children and the fearless torchbearers of his faith. With ultimate perseverance they assumed inhuman tortures-hunger, thirst, sickness and many other aﬄictions, bearing indescribable suﬀering. All of this they accepted with single-minded valor because they were disciples of Christ: “Blessed are they who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven” [Matthew 5:11].
They endured all manner of indignity but remained steadfast because they heard the Lord’s word, which echoed sweetly in their hearts: “Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you” [Matthew 5:12].
Although they were subjected to barbarous suﬀering, their spirits were put through indescribable tortures, yet they were crowned with victory in the spiritual war because they remained true to Lord’s word, “Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell” [Matthew 10:28].
The Holy Martyrs struck down by the Genocide are forever gloriﬁed at God’s right hand because, surrendering themselves, they followed the Lord. Moreover, during their earthly lives they truly believed Christ’s unfailing promise: “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live” [John 11:25].
And to all humanity they were not ashamed to confess Jesus Christ as their Lord and God. Today, Christ the Lord of Glory gloriﬁes them in heaven in the presence of the angels. Today in eternity, as victors called from death to life, they cry out, “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” [1 Corinthians 15:55].
Today, Armenian heirs of the holy martyrs, steadfast in Christian faith and doctrine, and in your profession of the Lord, continue to live and act in devotion to God. Take refuge in the Lord with unceasing prayer: “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? In you, O Lord, I see refuge; do not let me ever be put to shame; in your righteousness deliver me” [Psalm 27:1, 31:1].
Let us bless, praise and glorify the Lord for his inestimable promises, for the victories he has granted us, and for the great honor he has given us, the grace of adoption. Let us all glorify God and say together, “Blessed, praised and gloriﬁed is the all-holy Trinity, God the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, for the inheritance of the Kingdom of heaven and the eternal life that he has granted to the righteous, the saints, and the faithful followers of the Lord. May the memory of the righteous be blessed. Amen.

SCRIPTURE READINGS

~ Hebrews 10:32-39 ~

But recall those earlier days when, after you had been enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, sometimes being publicly exposed to abuse and persecution, and sometimes being partners with those so treated. For you had compassion for those who were in prison, and you cheerfully accepted the plundering of your possessions, knowing that you yourselves possessed something better and more lasting. Do not, therefore, abandon that confidence of yours; it brings a great reward. For you need endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised. For yet "in a very little while, the one who is coming will come and will not delay; but my righteous one will live by faith. My soul takes no pleasure in anyone who shrinks back." But we are not among those who shrink back and so are lost, but among those who have faith and so are saved.

~ Holy Gospel to St. John 14:1-13 ~

"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way to the place where I am going." Thomas said to him, "Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?" Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him." Philip said to him, "Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied." Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, "Show us the Father'? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves. Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.