Invocation
By His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan
Prelate, Armenian Apostolic Church of America, Eastern Prelacy

Sunday, April 22, 2012
Times Square, New York City

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Almighty and ever living God, Creator of the world, Father of all men and women, we stand here before you on yet another April, the month of life when the earth blossoms forth, renewing again the promise of life. Yet it is a month of sadness and mourning for Your faithful children of the Armenian nation who weep for the mass murder of one and one-half million of their ancestors.

The genocide that began ninety-seven years ago, on April 24, 1915, exterminated one-half of the Armenian nation, and the remainder were left destitute, without hope, without resources, and deprived of their native soil, their ancestral Motherland.

The Turkish genocide of the Armenians destroyed the main body of the Armenian population which had lived on their land for more than two and a half millennia. The tragedy, however, was even greater than the physical destruction of a people. It also meant the destruction of a national and ancient culture that had just entered a new period of flourishing activity.

The present-day denial by the Turkish government and our own State Department as an act of genocide deepens the wounds. Death denied is death doubled.

Lord in heaven, we ask you to look with kindness upon the few remaining survivors some of whom are with us this day. We thank you for delivering them from the depths of despair to the United States where they were given the gift of liberty and security. Bless them now in the autumn of their years and hear their pleas for truth and justice.

We beseech You, O Lord Almighty, to bless this land of the United States of America where the remnants of the Armenian nation were welcomed to begin a new life ninety-seven years ago. Empower the survivors and their progeny to continue to serve Your glory as Your instruments of goodness.

Almighty God, we are gathered here at the crossroads of the world to remember and honor the memory of the victims of the Armenian genocide and the victims of all genocides past and present. Strengthen in us the power of the cross that we may remove the doubt in our hearts and souls and be instruments of justice and righteousness for all.

Place Your grace upon the Armenian nation and people so that they may faithfully serve Your kingdom. Grant them Your divine wisdom and courage to serve humanity in accordance with Your commandments.

Your faithful sons and daughters seek recognition and reparation. Like the prophet Micah they watch and hope for the Lord, and wait for God their Savior knowing that God will hear their prayers.

Let us pray together.