A Resumption of Canonization after Centuries-Long Hiatus: the Armenian Genocide through the Lens of Neo-martyrdom

What is it about?

On April 23, 2015, a significant canonization ceremony was held at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin in Armenia, led by Garegin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, and Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia. This event marked the collective canonization of the Armenian Genocide martyrs at the open-air altar of St. Trdat III the Great. The ceremony used a specially revived formula that avoided specifying the number of martyrs, recognizing that not all victims of the Genocide could be considered martyrs in the strictest theological sense._x000D_ _x000D_ The ceremony was rich in traditional elements, including the Lord's Prayer, a procession, scriptural readings, and testimonies of martyrdom. April 24 was designated as the Commemoration Day for these martyrs._x000D_ _x000D_ This article explores the 100-year journey from 1915 to 2015, examining the interplay between historical memory, theological reflection, and martyrdom in Armenian Christian thought. It highlights how genocide memoirs have evolved into modern literary expressions and emphasizes the dynamic relationship between ecclesiastical authority and the community in the Christian canonization tradition. The martyrs of the Armenian Genocide represent a specific cluster of neo-martyrdom that holds a special place in Christian theology.

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