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TURKISH PASTOR VISITS FRESNO CHURCH ASKING FORGIVENESS FROM ARMENIANS FOR GENOCIDE - VIDEO
12:54, 03 Apr 2015
Siranush Ghazanchyan
Thursday, a Turkish pastor visited the First Armenian Presbyterian
Church in Fresno to apologize for the crimes his ancestors committed
against Armenians, Your Central Valley reports.
It's an atrocity that the Turkish government denies. And it was only
about seven years that a Turkish pastor learned what happened when
he visited the Armenian Genocide museum in Armenia's capital city.
"Ashamed-and I cried. I had goosebumps," he said.
He asked the author not to identify him for security reasons. He's
in the U.S. as a refugee fleeing religious persecution.
Thursday, he brought his message to the congregation of the First
Armenian Presbyterian Church asking for forgiveness.
"I'm asking you, please forgive my nation. Please forgive my nation.
They are guilty. They are guilty in God's eyes. They are guilty in
your eyes," he said tearfully.
His message was received with tears and applause.
Pastor Greg Haroutunian of the First Armenian Presbyterian Church
called it an important step in the healing process.
"Our people are hearing this for the first time. And some of them in
their 80s are just overwhelmed. They can't believe this is happening.
They're hearing it for the first time," Haroutunian said.
Church member Art Terzian said he shook the Turkish pastor's hand
in appreciation.
"I admire him because he feels guilty, and he had nothing to do with
it; that's his grandfathers," Terzian said.
http://www.armradio.am/en/2015/04/03/turkish-pastor-visits-fresno-church-asking-forgiveness-from-armenians-for-genocide/
http://www.yourcentralvalley.com/story/d/story/turkish-pastor-visits-fresno-church-asking-forgive/19666/oA8A6zkP00yo6JGYUr7oUQ
12:54, 03 Apr 2015
Siranush Ghazanchyan
Thursday, a Turkish pastor visited the First Armenian Presbyterian
Church in Fresno to apologize for the crimes his ancestors committed
against Armenians, Your Central Valley reports.
It's an atrocity that the Turkish government denies. And it was only
about seven years that a Turkish pastor learned what happened when
he visited the Armenian Genocide museum in Armenia's capital city.
"Ashamed-and I cried. I had goosebumps," he said.
He asked the author not to identify him for security reasons. He's
in the U.S. as a refugee fleeing religious persecution.
Thursday, he brought his message to the congregation of the First
Armenian Presbyterian Church asking for forgiveness.
"I'm asking you, please forgive my nation. Please forgive my nation.
They are guilty. They are guilty in God's eyes. They are guilty in
your eyes," he said tearfully.
His message was received with tears and applause.
Pastor Greg Haroutunian of the First Armenian Presbyterian Church
called it an important step in the healing process.
"Our people are hearing this for the first time. And some of them in
their 80s are just overwhelmed. They can't believe this is happening.
They're hearing it for the first time," Haroutunian said.
Church member Art Terzian said he shook the Turkish pastor's hand
in appreciation.
"I admire him because he feels guilty, and he had nothing to do with
it; that's his grandfathers," Terzian said.
http://www.armradio.am/en/2015/04/03/turkish-pastor-visits-fresno-church-asking-forgiveness-from-armenians-for-genocide/
http://www.yourcentralvalley.com/story/d/story/turkish-pastor-visits-fresno-church-asking-forgive/19666/oA8A6zkP00yo6JGYUr7oUQ