| A Christian Understanding of the Armenian Genocide |
---In 1915, the Turkish government began the final phase of a campaign which
culminated in the destruction of over two million Armenians.
Most ignored their plight.
---In 1972 the United States of America legalized abortion which led to the
destruction of the same amount of its unborn children every year.
Most today ignore their plight as well.
What is the Orthodox Christian understanding of, and response to such gross
injustices and atrocities against human life? For the true Christian there is only one
answer: we must support and defend the sanctity of all human life from conception
to natural death.
If slavery were still legal in the U.S., would you vote for a politician who
supports its legality? If the U.S., like Turkey, was conducting a campaign of
genocide to murder millions of innocent Armenians, would you vote for a politician
who supported this policy?
Most Armenians would not. Yet many Armenians in the US vote for
pro-abortion politicians who support and defend the legality of the killing of
millions of innocent, pre-born human beings every year. One cannot be both
against genocide and for abortion, just as one cannot be Christian and
"pro-choice" (if that "choice" means allowing the killing of innocent human life).
culminated in the destruction of over two million Armenians.
Most ignored their plight.
---In 1972 the United States of America legalized abortion which led to the
destruction of the same amount of its unborn children every year.
Most today ignore their plight as well.
What is the Orthodox Christian understanding of, and response to such gross
injustices and atrocities against human life? For the true Christian there is only one
answer: we must support and defend the sanctity of all human life from conception
to natural death.
If slavery were still legal in the U.S., would you vote for a politician who
supports its legality? If the U.S., like Turkey, was conducting a campaign of
genocide to murder millions of innocent Armenians, would you vote for a politician
who supported this policy?
Most Armenians would not. Yet many Armenians in the US vote for
pro-abortion politicians who support and defend the legality of the killing of
millions of innocent, pre-born human beings every year. One cannot be both
against genocide and for abortion, just as one cannot be Christian and
"pro-choice" (if that "choice" means allowing the killing of innocent human life).
Christian Links on the Armenian Genocide
1. How Shall We Remember? The moving essay by Dr. Guroian regarding our genocide commemorations
2. My Letter to Dr. Guroian regarding the need and importance of his essay in our Church today
3. Common Declaration on the Armenian Martyrs and Confessors By Pope John Paul II and Catholicos Karekin II
4. Historic Vatican Plea on behalf of Armenians the history of the Latin Church's support for Armenians
5. Prayer of Pope John Paul II for the victims of the Armenian Genocide
6. In Memory Of The 50 Million Victims Of The Orthodox Christian Holocaust
1. How Shall We Remember? The moving essay by Dr. Guroian regarding our genocide commemorations
2. My Letter to Dr. Guroian regarding the need and importance of his essay in our Church today
3. Common Declaration on the Armenian Martyrs and Confessors By Pope John Paul II and Catholicos Karekin II
4. Historic Vatican Plea on behalf of Armenians the history of the Latin Church's support for Armenians
5. Prayer of Pope John Paul II for the victims of the Armenian Genocide
6. In Memory Of The 50 Million Victims Of The Orthodox Christian Holocaust
Books on the Armenocide
1. The Slaughterhouse Province by Leslie A. Davis The eyewitness account of an American Consulate in Turkey who
witnessed the attrocities and risked his life trying to stop them. This book greatly impacted me.
2. Ambassador Morgenthau's Story by Henry Morgenthau "His account was written with the authority of a first hand
observer and remains one of the classic accounts of World War I."
3. More Information on the Armenian Genocide
1. The Slaughterhouse Province by Leslie A. Davis The eyewitness account of an American Consulate in Turkey who
witnessed the attrocities and risked his life trying to stop them. This book greatly impacted me.
2. Ambassador Morgenthau's Story by Henry Morgenthau "His account was written with the authority of a first hand
observer and remains one of the classic accounts of World War I."
3. More Information on the Armenian Genocide
| "For on account of Thee, we are being put to death the whole day; we were counted as sheep of slaughter." -Romans 8:36 |
| Return to home-page: Looys Kreesdosee |
| For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. -2 Cor. 1:5 ...We suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with Him. I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. -Rom. 8:18 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. -Phil. 1:21 ...That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and may share His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death, that if possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. -Phil. 3:10-11 For one is approved if, mindful of God, he endures pain while suffering unjustly. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His steps. He committed no sin; no guile was found on His lips. When He was reviled, He did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten; but He trusted Him who judges justly. He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By His wounds you have been healed. -1 St. Peter 2:19-24 |
Political Links on the Armenian Genocide
1. A Case Study A presentation of the history behind the Armenian Genocide
2. Ambassador Morganthoau's Story The account by the American Ambassador to Turkey
3. ABC News Special with startling photos by a German Soldier in Turkey
4. Cilicia.com Genocide Page Excellent resource for background information
5. Despite promises ...and acknowledgements U.S. Presidents have failed to officially recognize Genocide
1. A Case Study A presentation of the history behind the Armenian Genocide
2. Ambassador Morganthoau's Story The account by the American Ambassador to Turkey
3. ABC News Special with startling photos by a German Soldier in Turkey
4. Cilicia.com Genocide Page Excellent resource for background information
5. Despite promises ...and acknowledgements U.S. Presidents have failed to officially recognize Genocide
| Armenian Church Icon of the Crucifixion of our Lord |
What is the CHRISTIAN understanding and approach to the commemoration of the Armenian Genocide? Our yearly memorials, with all of there angered calls for "justice," are seriously devoid of an Orthodox Christian perspective. Indeed atheists and modern-day pagans could have identical memorials. Where is Christ and His message in such commemorations? When we remember liturgically the Holy Innocents of Bethlehem, do we couple this with demands for justice? Do we call on the Israeli government to admit its ancestor's injustice through King Herod? In his book "Faith, Church, Mission," Dr. Vigen Guroian (in the article "How Shall We Remember?) addresses this question in a clear, reasonable manner. His message needs to be heard because until Armenians understand this, they will never begin to allow Christ to heal them of their own collective, perpetual despair. The Orthodox Christian answer to all human suffering, as Dr. Guroian writes, is our Lord Jesus Christ's own life and example. Our suffering and death only find meaning in His voluntary Passion and Crucifixion for us. Our hope for deliverance from suffering and death derives solely from His Resurrection which He promised to those who believe and trust in Him. |