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PRESS OFFICE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Chris Zakian
Tel: (212) 686-0710; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: http://www.armenianchurch-ed.net
October 24, 2014
____________________
Victors, Not Victims
Prof. Maxwell Johnson states the case for canonizing the Armenian Genocide
martyrs
By Florence Avakian
In the spring of 2015, stated Dr. Maxwell E. Johnson, "the victims of the
Armenian Genocide will become victors in Christ."
The Professor of Liturgy at Notre Dame University offered this conclusion
during his fascinating lecture on Thursday evening, October 9, at the Krikor
and Clara Zohrab Information Center of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of
America (Eastern).
Earlier in the evening Prof. Johnson had been introduced by the Zohrab
Center's director, the Very Rev. Fr. Daniel Findikyan, as an "expert in the
history and theology of early Christian worship," who has written
extensively on the topic of martyrdom.
Fr. Findikyan went on to inform listeners that in April of 2015-as part of
the worldwide observance of the 100th "Year of Remembrance" of the
Genocide-the Armenian Church will canonize those who died in that cataclysm
as saints of the church.
"Many died for the Christian faith" during the Genocide, Fr. Findikyan
observed. "The canonization will be unique and momentous, since the church
has not declared any new saints for hundreds of years."
The Path to Sainthood
The canonization will take place at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, with
the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, His Holiness Karekin
II, presiding along with the Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, His
Holiness Aram I, who will travel to Armenia for the occasion.
"They will officially recognize as saints of the church the countless souls
who perished during the Genocide for the sake of the name of Jesus Christ,"
related Fr. Findikyan.
Prof. Johnson began his thought-provoking discourse-titled, "The Blood of
the Martyrs: 'Seed of the Church' Yesterday and Today"-by noting that the
Armenian badarak abounds in references to saints, especially during the
"intercessions" prayer.
"Who is a saint?" he asked. "They are citizens of the kingdom of God;
certain faithful members of the church who stand out. Most are unknown; and
in certain communities they are venerated locally. 'Canonization' implies
that the saints are included into the broader canon" of the church.
In the Armenian Church, he said, canonization is not so much a formal, legal
process, but is rather a recognition by the church of a person's sanctity.
The qualifications for being so recognized may include performance of
miracles, living a holy life, being an exemplary icon, and (of course)
martyrdom.
The most well-known saints in the Armenian Church have been martyrs, monks,
or bishops, whose deaths, miracles, relics, or icons enter into the list of
the church's official commemorations.
Martyrs of the Past-and Present
Foremost among the martyrs is Jesus Christ, Dr. Johnson said; but others
include such figures as St. Stephen Proto-martyr, St. Hripsime, the Forty
Martyrs of Sepastia (who froze to death), St. Shushanik (the daughter of St.
Vartan), St. Ignatius of Antioch, and St. Blaise.
The commemorations of their respective martyrdoms became something akin to
birthday celebrations, he noted, since they had entered through death upon a
new and eternal life with Christ.
"Saints' days were the heart of Christian piety," Prof. Johnson added, also
noting the "very strong connection between the martyrs and the Eucharist."
As for the 20th century, Dr. Johnson said it has been called the "Age of
Martyrs," because "more Christians died for their faith in that period than
in any previous time-including such times as the Roman Empire."
Martyrdom today "is of an ecumenical nature," he said. "And only one who has
died of his or her own will is a martyr." Prof. Johnson cited Archbishop
Oscar Romero of El Salvador-killed in 1980 at the altar-as an example. "The
first thing he saw upon arising in the morning, and the last thing he saw
before retiring at night, was a picture at his bedside of Christ's passion
the Lord's last gasp before he died."
A Seed of Unity
The question of canonizing the Genocide martyrs has been under discussion,
officially and unofficially, for some time. And the canonization will have
consequences for the way the Genocide is understood and acknowledged in the
church.
Dr. Johnson quoted from a 1990 article titled, "Canonization of the Genocide
Victims: Are We Ready?" by sociologist (and deacon) Hratch Tchilingirian.
"Theologically, once the victims of the Genocide are canonized, the Armenian
Church will be put under a dogmatic imperative," Tchilingirian wrote nearly
25 years ago. "They are no longer victims, but victors in Christ."
The article went on: "Once the victims of the Genocide are canonized, we can
no longer holdhokehankists (requiem services) to mourn their death. Instead,
we will celebrate the Divine Liturgy invoking their names, asking for their
intercession, and we will celebrate their victory over death, in and through
Christ."
Tchilingirian also observed: "Once the victims of the Genocide are
canonized, we can no longer hold candlelight vigils. The mournful, dark
atmosphere of commemorations of the Genocide will have to be changed into a
festive glorious atmosphere. The victims are no longer victims, but saints
who live in the glory of God. Hence, the question is whether Armenians are
willing to see themselves as witnesses to the Death and Resurrection of
Christ-for whom hundreds of thousands of Armenians gave their lives-rather
than perpetually identifying themselves as the victims."
More recently, the Genocide martyrs were invoked during a May 2014 meeting
at the Vatican between Roman Catholic Pope Francis and Catholicos Karekin
II. Dr. Johnson quoted from the record of that meeting, as well.
Greeting the Catholicos, the Pope said: "The number of disciples who shed
their blood for Christ in the tragic events of the last century is certainly
greater than the number of martyrs in the first centuries. And in this
martyrology, the children of the Armenian nation have a place of honor."
Pope Francis: "The mystery of the Cross-so dear to the memory of your
people, represented in the splendid stone crosses that adorn every corner of
your land-has been lived by countless of your children as a direct
participation in the chalice of the Passion of Christ."
Dr. Johnson concluded by echoing the Pope's words: "The recent suffering of
Christians is the seed of unity. It is a powerful call to journey along the
road of reconciliation among the churches."
###
Photo: Dr. Maxwell E. Johnson speaks at the Diocesan Center in New York.
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Chris Zakian
Tel: (212) 686-0710; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: http://www.armenianchurch-ed.net
October 24, 2014
____________________
Victors, Not Victims
Prof. Maxwell Johnson states the case for canonizing the Armenian Genocide
martyrs
By Florence Avakian
In the spring of 2015, stated Dr. Maxwell E. Johnson, "the victims of the
Armenian Genocide will become victors in Christ."
The Professor of Liturgy at Notre Dame University offered this conclusion
during his fascinating lecture on Thursday evening, October 9, at the Krikor
and Clara Zohrab Information Center of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of
America (Eastern).
Earlier in the evening Prof. Johnson had been introduced by the Zohrab
Center's director, the Very Rev. Fr. Daniel Findikyan, as an "expert in the
history and theology of early Christian worship," who has written
extensively on the topic of martyrdom.
Fr. Findikyan went on to inform listeners that in April of 2015-as part of
the worldwide observance of the 100th "Year of Remembrance" of the
Genocide-the Armenian Church will canonize those who died in that cataclysm
as saints of the church.
"Many died for the Christian faith" during the Genocide, Fr. Findikyan
observed. "The canonization will be unique and momentous, since the church
has not declared any new saints for hundreds of years."
The Path to Sainthood
The canonization will take place at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, with
the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, His Holiness Karekin
II, presiding along with the Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, His
Holiness Aram I, who will travel to Armenia for the occasion.
"They will officially recognize as saints of the church the countless souls
who perished during the Genocide for the sake of the name of Jesus Christ,"
related Fr. Findikyan.
Prof. Johnson began his thought-provoking discourse-titled, "The Blood of
the Martyrs: 'Seed of the Church' Yesterday and Today"-by noting that the
Armenian badarak abounds in references to saints, especially during the
"intercessions" prayer.
"Who is a saint?" he asked. "They are citizens of the kingdom of God;
certain faithful members of the church who stand out. Most are unknown; and
in certain communities they are venerated locally. 'Canonization' implies
that the saints are included into the broader canon" of the church.
In the Armenian Church, he said, canonization is not so much a formal, legal
process, but is rather a recognition by the church of a person's sanctity.
The qualifications for being so recognized may include performance of
miracles, living a holy life, being an exemplary icon, and (of course)
martyrdom.
The most well-known saints in the Armenian Church have been martyrs, monks,
or bishops, whose deaths, miracles, relics, or icons enter into the list of
the church's official commemorations.
Martyrs of the Past-and Present
Foremost among the martyrs is Jesus Christ, Dr. Johnson said; but others
include such figures as St. Stephen Proto-martyr, St. Hripsime, the Forty
Martyrs of Sepastia (who froze to death), St. Shushanik (the daughter of St.
Vartan), St. Ignatius of Antioch, and St. Blaise.
The commemorations of their respective martyrdoms became something akin to
birthday celebrations, he noted, since they had entered through death upon a
new and eternal life with Christ.
"Saints' days were the heart of Christian piety," Prof. Johnson added, also
noting the "very strong connection between the martyrs and the Eucharist."
As for the 20th century, Dr. Johnson said it has been called the "Age of
Martyrs," because "more Christians died for their faith in that period than
in any previous time-including such times as the Roman Empire."
Martyrdom today "is of an ecumenical nature," he said. "And only one who has
died of his or her own will is a martyr." Prof. Johnson cited Archbishop
Oscar Romero of El Salvador-killed in 1980 at the altar-as an example. "The
first thing he saw upon arising in the morning, and the last thing he saw
before retiring at night, was a picture at his bedside of Christ's passion
the Lord's last gasp before he died."
A Seed of Unity
The question of canonizing the Genocide martyrs has been under discussion,
officially and unofficially, for some time. And the canonization will have
consequences for the way the Genocide is understood and acknowledged in the
church.
Dr. Johnson quoted from a 1990 article titled, "Canonization of the Genocide
Victims: Are We Ready?" by sociologist (and deacon) Hratch Tchilingirian.
"Theologically, once the victims of the Genocide are canonized, the Armenian
Church will be put under a dogmatic imperative," Tchilingirian wrote nearly
25 years ago. "They are no longer victims, but victors in Christ."
The article went on: "Once the victims of the Genocide are canonized, we can
no longer holdhokehankists (requiem services) to mourn their death. Instead,
we will celebrate the Divine Liturgy invoking their names, asking for their
intercession, and we will celebrate their victory over death, in and through
Christ."
Tchilingirian also observed: "Once the victims of the Genocide are
canonized, we can no longer hold candlelight vigils. The mournful, dark
atmosphere of commemorations of the Genocide will have to be changed into a
festive glorious atmosphere. The victims are no longer victims, but saints
who live in the glory of God. Hence, the question is whether Armenians are
willing to see themselves as witnesses to the Death and Resurrection of
Christ-for whom hundreds of thousands of Armenians gave their lives-rather
than perpetually identifying themselves as the victims."
More recently, the Genocide martyrs were invoked during a May 2014 meeting
at the Vatican between Roman Catholic Pope Francis and Catholicos Karekin
II. Dr. Johnson quoted from the record of that meeting, as well.
Greeting the Catholicos, the Pope said: "The number of disciples who shed
their blood for Christ in the tragic events of the last century is certainly
greater than the number of martyrs in the first centuries. And in this
martyrology, the children of the Armenian nation have a place of honor."
Pope Francis: "The mystery of the Cross-so dear to the memory of your
people, represented in the splendid stone crosses that adorn every corner of
your land-has been lived by countless of your children as a direct
participation in the chalice of the Passion of Christ."
Dr. Johnson concluded by echoing the Pope's words: "The recent suffering of
Christians is the seed of unity. It is a powerful call to journey along the
road of reconciliation among the churches."
###
Photo: Dr. Maxwell E. Johnson speaks at the Diocesan Center in New York.