Armenia is experiencing a humanitarian emergency with the arrival of over 100,000 refugees who fled Artsakh, known as Nagorno Karabakh, following a military attack by Azerbaijan in September. Hundreds of people have been killed and injured. The attack followed nine months of blockade, leaving the refugees extremely vulnerable as a result of trauma, ill health and hunger. They fear not only for their future, but also that their past, including their religious heritage, might be obliterated in their homeland, and are appealing to the international community for support and protection.
On Sunday 29th October the General Secretaries of CTBI and the Irish Council of Churches were welcomed by the Armenian Church community in Ireland, together with Most Rev Michael Jackson, Church of Ireland Archbishop of Dublin, at the invitation of His Grace Bishop Hovakim Manukyan.
We joined the community in worship for the Feast of the Discovery of the Holy Cross, which commemorates the excavation of the True Cross from Calvary. In his sermon, Bishop Hovakim reminded us of the power of the cross as an enduring symbol of faith, which is evident even in our increasingly secular society.
His Grace Bishop Hovakim Manukyan with the General Secretaries of CTBI and the Irish Council of Churches, and the Most Rev Michael Jackson, Church of Ireland Archbishop of Dublin.
Bishop Hovakim recalled his recent encounter with refugees from Artsakh, accompanied by Most Revd Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury. The people they met have lost so much. For some this is the second, or even third time they have been displaced from their home. Yet, in spite of everything, they displayed incredible strength and resilience in the face of suffering. They made a heartfelt plea for protection of their heritage, particularly their churches and the graveyards where their loved ones are buried.
Because of this experience, and the family and community ties of the Armenian diaspora to the victims of conflict in other places, such as Ukraine and the Middle East, there is a strong sense of solidarity with those suffering as a result of violent conflict and genocide throughout the world. Bishop Hovakim offered a message of hope, recalling the transformation of the Cross from a symbol of death and suffering to one of salvation and victory.
The commitment of the Armenian Church to ecumenism, and particularly the work with other Christians in the service of peace and reconciliation, was emphasised. Bishop Hovakim thanked Most Revd Archbishop Michael Jackson for the ecumenical hospitality of the Church of Ireland, which provides space for the Armenian community to worship in Taney Parish Church, Dublin.
Archbishop Michael reflected on the tenth meeting of the Anglican-Oriental Orthodox International Commission which he had attended recently together with Bishop Hovakim. The Commission had emphasised the importance of dialogue and cooperation and coming together as Christians to pray for peace and stand in solidarity with the victims of violent conflict throughout the world, taking time to listen in particular to the experiences of Christians in Israel and Palestine.
Returning to the context on these islands, Bishop Hovakim expressed appreciation for the work of the national ecumenical instruments, represented on this occasion by CTBI and the Irish Council of Churches, in providing opportunities for the growing Armenian community to encounter and build relations with their fellow Christians and to live out that ecumenical vocation that is at the heart of the spiritual life of this Church.
Dr Damian Jackson, ICC General Secretary, responded with a reflection on the learning from the centenary of the ICC and the 50th anniversary of the Irish Inter-Church Meeting, which have been marked with a series of events, and a publication, throughout 2023. This reflection on the journey so far has provided inspiration and generated energy for the work of shaping the vision for the future and affirmed the importance of connecting with the diversity of our Christian traditions and experiences in developing that vision and realising it through collective action.
As ecumenical guests we were grateful for the warm hospitality of the Armenian Church community, and Bishop Hovakim paid tribute to the incredible dedication of the lay volunteers who made this possible, giving generously of their time to build up the community and share the gift of faith.
Please remember in your prayers the Armenian Church and people at this time of great loss and suffering. To follow what is happening and find out how you can help, you can follow the news and updates from the Diocese here: https://armenianchurch.org.uk. Our collective witness can help ensure that people’s lives and rights are protected and offer hope of a better future to the victims of violence from Artsakh and other places of conflict around the world.
