Metropolitan Joseph, seated in the first row, listens as the President of Armenia delivers his speech.Press release: By the Very Rev. Joseph Rahal, Washington, DC
Friday, May 8, 2015
On Thursday, May 7, His Eminence Metropolitan Joseph was a participant in the ecumenical commemoration of the 100th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. The service was held at the National Cathedral in Washington, DC. as a part of the National Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide Centennial coordinated by the Diocese and Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Churches of America, East and West.
Accompanying His Eminence were the Very Rev. Joseph Rahal, Pastor of St. George Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church of Washington, DC; the Very Rev. Isaac Crow, Pastor of Ss. Peter & Paul Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church, Potomac, MD; and Subdeacon Rassem El Massih. The delegation was seated on the first row facing the altar.
In the Armenian Genocide, over 1.5 million Armenians, Antiochians, Syrians and Assyrians perished at the hands of Ottoman Turks from 1915-1923.
A prayer of remembrance was offered by the attendees from various church leaders including our hierarch, Metropolitan Joseph.
Over 6000 people were present, including: the President of the Republic of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan; the Vice-President of the United States Joe Biden; His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriach and Catholicos of All Armenians; His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia; His Holiness Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All East of the Syriac Orthodox Church; members of Congress; His Eminence Metropolitan Joseph of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America; and other Christian leaders from around the United States.
The Rev. Dr. Olav Fykse Tveit, General Secretary of the World Council of Churches, delivered the homily. The Most Rev. Dr. Katharine Jefferts Schori, Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, welcomed attendees to the service, and His Eminence Metropolitan Joseph read the Gospel. The Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan delivered a message on behalf of all the people of Armenia.