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September 22, 2023

Artsakh burns while Western leaders fiddle

A woman reacts as protesters gather Sept. 20, 2023, near a government building in Yerevan, Armenia, following the launch a day earlier of a military operation by Azerbaijani forces in Nagorno-Karabakh. A ceasefire was declared Sept. 20 in the region, which is a historic Armenian enclave located in southwestern Azerbaijan and internationally recognized as part of that nation.

In the pre-dawn hours of yet another tranquil Ottawa morning — Sept. 19 — my cell phone buzzed. With a sense of foreboding and apprehension I speed-read the message that popped up.

Published in International
September 20, 2023

Catholic bishop hopes 'history will not repeat itself' after ceasefire in Armenian enclave

A woman reacts as protesters gather Sept. 20, 2023, near a government building in Yerevan, Armenia, following the launch a day earlier of a military operation by Azerbaijani forces in Nagorno-Karabakh. A ceasefire was declared Sept. 20 in the region, which is a historic Armenian enclave located in southwestern Azerbaijan and internationally recognized as part of that nation.

An Armenian Catholic bishop told OSV News he hopes that "history will not repeat itself" following a Sept. 20 ceasefire in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Published in International
September 7, 2023

Armenian Catholic Church calls for prayers to stop genocide

Shoppers at a supermarket in Stepanakert, Nagorno-Karabakh, find shelves lacking items amid a regional food shortage. The shortage is the result of a blockade in the Lachin corridor linking Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh, an Armenian-populated enclave surrounded by Azerbaijan.

Local Canadian Armenians with loved ones in the land-locked territory of Artsakh, are rallying to galvanize the international community over what experts, activists and residents identify as an unfolding genocide.

Published in International
January 13, 2023

Armenia struggles in Ukraine’s shadow

Empty shelves in the shadow of a Christmas tree in a shop in the heavily-Armenian area of Artsakh.

It’s Jan. 5 — Christmas eve for Armenians — most of whom are members of the Armenian Apostolic Church, an Orthodox Christian denomination that celebrates Christmas on Jan. 6.

Published in International
December 19, 2018

Armenian Apostolic Church appoints first-ever representative to the Holy See

Pope Francis greets Catholicos Karekin II, patriarch of the Armenian Apostolic Church, during a private audience Oct. 24 at the Vatican.
VATICAN – The Armenian Apostolic Church, one of six in the Oriental Orthodox communion, will have a fixed representative in Rome, similar to the Eastern Orthodox, Anglicans, and Methodists.
Published in International
April 5, 2018

Pope blesses statue of 10th-century Armenian saint in Vatican Gardens

A statue of St. Gregory of Narek, a 10th-century Armenian monk, is seen during its dedication in the Vatican Gardens April 5. Pope Francis blessed the statue in the presence of Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, Armenian Apostolic Catholicos Karekin II and Armenian Apostolic Catholicos Aram of Cilicia.
VATICAN – During a brief ceremony in the Vatican Gardens, Pope Francis blessed a new statue of a 10th-century Armenian monk he had declared a "doctor of the church" in 2015.
Published in International
June 27, 2016

Martyred Christians suffer ‘ecumenism of blood,’ Pope, patriarch say

Pope Francis and Catholicos Karekin II, patriarch of the Armenian Apostolic Church, arrive for an ecumenical meeting and prayer for peace in Republic Square in Yerevan, Armenia, June 25.

YEREVAN, Armenia – Applying the common faith they professed publicly earlier in the day, Pope Francis and Armenian Apostolic Catholicos Karekin II urged common action on behalf of persecuted Christians, welcome for refugees and defense of the family.

Published in International
June 27, 2016

Full text from Mass in Gyumri, Armenia

Pope Francis speaks as he visits the Armenian Apostolic Cathedral at Etchmiadzin in Vagharshapat, Armenia, June 24.

Speaking at Holy Mass Saturday in Gyumri, Armenia, Pope Francis recalled the “terrible devastation” wrought by the massive 1988 earthquake that killed tens of thousands of people and gave thanks “for all that has been rebuilt.”

Published in Reflections
June 27, 2016

Brotherly embrace: Pope, Armenian leader highlight Christian unity

Catholicos Karekin II, patriarch of the Armenian Apostolic Church, exchanges greetings with Pope Francis during a divine liturgy at Etchmiadzin in Vagharshapat, Armenia, June 26.
VAGHARSHAPAT, Armenia – Recognizing that the church of Christ is one and that Christian divisions are a "scandal" to the world, Pope Francis and Armenian Apostolic Catholicos Karekin II offered their faithful the example of praying and working together.
Published in International
June 26, 2016

Be known for your love, Pope Francis tells people of Armenia

Pope Francis uses incense as he celebrates Mass in Vartanants Square in Gyumri, Armenia, June 25.
GYUMRI, Armenia – Acts of love and kindness must be a Christian's "calling card," the characteristic that identifies them more than anything, Pope Francis told Catholics in northern Armenia.
Published in International
June 26, 2016

Never again: Pope prays for Armenian genocide victims, future peace

Pope Francis visits the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial in Yerevan, Armenia, June 25. The monument honors the estimaged 1.5 million Armenians killed by Ottoman Turks in 1915-18. The icon behind the pope represents those killed.
YEREVAN, Armenia – In silence and in prayer while a mournful hymn was sung, Pope Francis formally paid tribute to the estimated 1.5 million Armenians killed by Ottoman Turks in 1915-18.
Published in International
June 24, 2016

Pope arrives in Armenia, speaks of faith, hope and future

Catholicos Karekin II, patriarch of the Armenian Apostolic Church, and Pope Francis arrive to visit the Armenian Apostolic Cathedral at Etchmiadzin in Vagharshapat, Armenia, June 24.
YEREVAN, Armenia – A solid, sorrow-tested Christian faith gives believers the strength to overcome even the most horrific adversity, forgive one's enemies and live in peace, Pope Francis said.
Published in International
June 22, 2016

Unity, honour and hope on Pope's agenda for Armenia

In a video messaged transmitted on Armenian television, Pope Francis talks about his upcoming trip to the nation.

VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis said he would travel to Armenia June 24-26 to promote closer bonds with the Armenian Orthodox church, honour the Armenian people's steadfast faith in the face of tragedy and support them in their efforts to build a peaceful future.

Published in International
June 17, 2016

Francis builds on ecumenical progress with Armenians

Catholicos Karekin II of Etchmiadzin, patriarch of the Armenian Apostolic Church, and Pope Francis pose for a photo during a meeting at the Vatican May 8. The Pope is set to visit Armenia June 24-26.

TORONTO – In a country that is more than 90-per-cent Orthodox, the biggest event  in Armenia this year will be a three-day visit by Pope Francis.

Published in International
May 15, 2016

Pope’s visit to Armenian genocide memorial may strain tensions with Turkey

Pope Francis embraces Catholicos Karekin II of Etchmiadzin, patriarch of the Armenian Apostolic Church, during an April 12 Mass in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican to mark the 100th anniversary of the Armenian genocide.

VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis will visit the Armenian Genocide memorial complex during a three-day visit to the country in June, a move that may strain the Vatican’s diplomatic relations with Turkey.

Published in International
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