On May 16, on the occasion of the 110th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, an Ecumenical prayer was held at the Notre Dame Cathedral of Ottawa, under the patronage of Her Excellency Anahit Harutyunyan, Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia to Canada.
An intercessory order was performed in memoriam to the holy martyrs of the 1915-1923 Armenian Genocide, with blessings of His Grace Bishop Abgar Hovakimyan, Primate of the Armenian Diocese of Canada, and in presence of the Most Reverend Marcel Damphousse, Archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Ottawa-Cornwall.
In her speech Ambassador Harutyunyan emphasized that the given act of remembrance is not only a tribute to the grief of one people, but a stark reminder of the heavy cost of silence, denial, and hatred. In that context, the important role of the late Pope Francis in the recognition of the Armenian Genocide was highlighted, as one of the bright examples of moral responsibility and clarity.
Thanking the guests, A. Harutyunyan stressed that everyone’s presence is more than an honor – it is a symbol of hope – that through unity, remembrance, and moral courage, all of us can shape a world where human life and dignity are cherished.
Speeches were also delivered by several foreign dignitaries.
The ceremony was attended by around 200 guests – more than 30 countries’ Ambassadors and other representatives of the diplomatic corps, accredited to Canada, Levon Afeyan, Honorary Consul of Armenia to Quebec, representatives of Catholic, Ethiopian Orthodox, Coptic Orthodox, Syriac Catholic, Romanian Orthodox, Indian Orthodox Churches, Reverend Fathers of the Armenian church, as well as many believers.
