Armenian Genocide Memorial Church (Der Zor)
Encyclopedia
Armenian Genocide Martyrs' Memorial in Deir ez-Zor, Syria
, is a complex dedicated to the memory of the victims of the Armenian Genocide
. The construction of the memorial started in December 1989 and completed in November 1990. The Consecration of the complex took place in 4 May 1991 by His Holiness Karekin I
I then-Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia. Nowadays, the complex serves as church, museum, monument, archive centre and exhibition. It is under the direct administration of the Armenian Prelacy, Diocese of Aleppo
. Every year, on 24 April, tens of thousands of Armenian pilgrims from all over the world, visit the Der Zor complex to commemorate the genocide victims, with the presence of their religious leaders.
, Diocese of Aleppo, the ground-blessing ceremony took place in 12 May 1985, on a piece of land which had functioned as burial place, concentration camp, death march site, killing center and site of execution during the genocide. Later, by the efforts of the Armenian community in Deir ez-Zor, a small chapel named after Saint Hripsime was built in the same place. The new memorial complex came to replace the old structure.
Deir ez-Zor was designated as the final destination point of the Armenian refugees who were driven out from their lands into a long march within the Syrian desert. That point of the desert, became the witness of the annihilation of the remaining refugees who were forced by the Ottoman Turks to death march
es. Those major killing centres in the region, became to be known as Deir ez-Zor Camps
, where, according to different sources, between 150,000 and 400,000 Armenians were killed.
The Genocide Memorial is a large, freestanding sculptural work at the foot of which, the remains of the genocide victims are buried. The complex consists of a circular glass display of genocide victims' remains, out of which a white-marble tower is grown, flanked by khatchkars (cross-stones).
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
, is a complex dedicated to the memory of the victims of the Armenian Genocide
Armenian Genocide
The Armenian Genocide—also known as the Armenian Holocaust, the Armenian Massacres and, by Armenians, as the Great Crime—refers to the deliberate and systematic destruction of the Armenian population of the Ottoman Empire during and just after World War I...
. The construction of the memorial started in December 1989 and completed in November 1990. The Consecration of the complex took place in 4 May 1991 by His Holiness Karekin I
Karekin I
Karekin I , served as the Catholicos of the Armenian Apostolic Church between 1995 and 1999...
I then-Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia. Nowadays, the complex serves as church, museum, monument, archive centre and exhibition. It is under the direct administration of the Armenian Prelacy, Diocese of Aleppo
Aleppo
Aleppo is the largest city in Syria and the capital of Aleppo Governorate, the most populous Syrian governorate. With an official population of 2,301,570 , expanding to over 2.5 million in the metropolitan area, it is also one of the largest cities in the Levant...
. Every year, on 24 April, tens of thousands of Armenian pilgrims from all over the world, visit the Der Zor complex to commemorate the genocide victims, with the presence of their religious leaders.
Background
By the initiative of the Armenian Apostolic ChurchArmenian Apostolic Church
The Armenian Apostolic Church is the world's oldest National Church, is part of Oriental Orthodoxy, and is one of the most ancient Christian communities. Armenia was the first country to adopt Christianity as its official religion in 301 AD, in establishing this church...
, Diocese of Aleppo, the ground-blessing ceremony took place in 12 May 1985, on a piece of land which had functioned as burial place, concentration camp, death march site, killing center and site of execution during the genocide. Later, by the efforts of the Armenian community in Deir ez-Zor, a small chapel named after Saint Hripsime was built in the same place. The new memorial complex came to replace the old structure.
Deir ez-Zor was designated as the final destination point of the Armenian refugees who were driven out from their lands into a long march within the Syrian desert. That point of the desert, became the witness of the annihilation of the remaining refugees who were forced by the Ottoman Turks to death march
Death march
A death march is a forced march of prisoners of war or other captives or deportees. Those marching must walk over long distances for an extremely long period of time and are not supplied with food or water...
es. Those major killing centres in the region, became to be known as Deir ez-Zor Camps
Deir ez-Zor Camps
Deir ez-Zor camps were a great "killing center" in the heart of the Syrian desert where many thousands of Armenian refugees were forced into death marches during the Armenian Genocide. The US vice-consul in Aleppo, Jesse B...
, where, according to different sources, between 150,000 and 400,000 Armenians were killed.
The Genocide Memorial is a large, freestanding sculptural work at the foot of which, the remains of the genocide victims are buried. The complex consists of a circular glass display of genocide victims' remains, out of which a white-marble tower is grown, flanked by khatchkars (cross-stones).
The Wall of Friendship
This great architectural edifice has been constructed to immortalize the memory of the innocent martyrs. It consists of a main entrance, through which one goes up to the courtyard with some stairs that sumbolize the horrible catastrophes and disasters that the Armenian nation was subjected to, but without surrendering to pains, they got up strongly and continued to live proudly and with self-esteem. The facade of the main entrance from inside is decorated with pigeon and crosses to express the struggle and sacrifice to achieve peace. On the right side of the courtyard there is the Wall of Friendship which is decorated with different Arabesque and Armenian-style inscriptions as a kind of symbolic expression of the close ties between these two nations. The two continuously flowing springs on this wall mention to the inexhaustable life and donation.The Monument
Opposite to the main entrance a huge monument is constructed for the memory of the Armenian martyrs. On this monument a cross-stone, which is brought from Armenia, is placed. In front of the monument, the eternity fire burns continuously. On both sides, one can see five samples of different Armenian genocide monuments found in the whole world. On the left side of the monument there is the memorial wall which carries a number of cross-stones ornamented with beautiful Armenian decorations.The Church and the Museum
The main structure of the complex, the church with its museum, is constructed on the left side of the courtyard. This beautiful church rises up to embrace the sky with pride and glory. Down the church, there is a hall from which a huge column stands up passing through the middle of the church, the Column of Resurrection. Around the base column, the remnants of the martyrs' bones that have been dug out from the Syrian desert are put to act as a witness of the death marches. The column refers to the struggle and the revival of the Armenian nation. The hall which is turned into a small museum, contains different books, publications and documentary photos exhibited to narrate the real story of the sufferings during the genocide.See also
- Armenian GenocideArmenian GenocideThe Armenian Genocide—also known as the Armenian Holocaust, the Armenian Massacres and, by Armenians, as the Great Crime—refers to the deliberate and systematic destruction of the Armenian population of the Ottoman Empire during and just after World War I...
- Deir ez-Zor CampsDeir ez-Zor CampsDeir ez-Zor camps were a great "killing center" in the heart of the Syrian desert where many thousands of Armenian refugees were forced into death marches during the Armenian Genocide. The US vice-consul in Aleppo, Jesse B...
- List of Armenian Genocide memorials
- Armenian Apostolic ChurchArmenian Apostolic ChurchThe Armenian Apostolic Church is the world's oldest National Church, is part of Oriental Orthodoxy, and is one of the most ancient Christian communities. Armenia was the first country to adopt Christianity as its official religion in 301 AD, in establishing this church...
- Church of the Holy Mother of God (Aleppo)
- Holy See of Cilicia
- Armenians in Syria