Unveiling and Blessing of Armenian Genocide Memorial Monument in York Cemetery

On Sunday, October 17, 2010, the Divine Liturgy was celebrated by His Eminence Bishop Galstanian and an inspiring message was delivered by him. At the end of Divine Liturgy, four members of the church choir, Taline Hacat, Lida Davoodi, Diana Wanes & Ohan Der Ohanessian were ordained and granted the title of Acolyte.

At 2:30 pm, the Armenian community and the faithful gathered at Mount Pleasant York Cemetery, Armenian Section 3.

The occasion was the unveiling and the blessing of a new “Khatchkar” monument in memory of 1.5 million martyrs of the Armenian Genocide, by His Eminence Bishop Galstanian, Rev. Archpriest Zareh Zargarian & Rev. Datev Menengichian, accompanied by the Deacons and Choir members of Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church.

This magnificent monument, designed by Mr. Hagop Janbazian, was the fulfillment of Fr. Zargarian’s and the Parish Council’s pledge made on the occasion of the establishment of the Armenian Section in York Cemetery in 2003.

In his emotional speech, Fr. Zargarian stated that the memorial monument symbolizes a collective grave for the 1.5 million Genocide victims, whose remains are still unburied in the valleys of Western Armenia and the deserts of Der Zor; whose souls are still waiting for justice and recognition by the present-day Turkey and the world.

In his concluding remarks, Bishop Galstanian thanked Fr. Zargarian, the Parish Council of Holy Trinity Armenian Church & the people involved in the construction of the monument and invited all present to sing the Lord’s Prayer and the National Anthems of Canada and Armenia.