and Orthodox Christian Holocaust, 1894-1923
Icon: Asia Minor Crucified |
While it is essential to remember the Armenian Genocide and to work to stop the Islamic genocide against Christians in the Middle East and Africa being committed today, we must recall that the term 'genocide' is a secular one.
As Christians we commemorate those killed not so much as 'genocide victims', but as Martyrs — Witnesses for Christ — for they were persecuted and killed by the Turkish Muslims primarily because they were Christians, who refused to renounce their faith in Jesus Christ. As the Lord tells us, "You will be hated by all for My Name's sake. But he who endures to the end shall be saved" (MT 10:22).
Therefore, the Armenian, Assyrian and Greek Martyrs from a hundred years ago are a sign for us today, who are living through a new age of mass Christian martyrdom, which may even result in the extinction of Christians from huge areas in the Middle East and Africa. They call out to us to be zealous and faithful to Jesus Christ to the end, for He has conquered the devil and death itself. They and all the New Martyrs of the 21st Century join to call us to deep repentance, and they admonish us to live fully the Christian life.
'Now one cannot be a half-hearted Christian, but only entirely or not at all.'
~ Hieromonk Seraphim Rose (†1982) ~
The Orthodox Christian Holocaust: 1894 to the Present - The most significant Orthodox Christian resource on this subject, compiled by the Very Rev. Archimandrite Nektarios Serfes. Includes summaries of genocide against 3.6 million Armenians and Greeks by Turkish Muslims from 1894-1923.
The Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute, Yerevan, Armenia |
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100 bell rings worldwide symbolize Armenian Genocide centennial
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Over 600 cities in Russia to commemorate the centennial of the Armenian Genocide. |
The Assyrian Genocide |
Muslim Persecution of the Armenians and other Asia Minor Christian communities continues to this day, as these reports attest: