19 July 2105. On Sunday morning, His Holiness Aram I presided over the Holy Liturgy at St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral in the presence of the visiting patriarchs, ecumenical and political representatives, the Armenian pilgrims arriving from different parts of the world and the local faithful.
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His Beatitude Pope Tawadros II, Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria, gave the message of the day and His Excellency Cardinal Kurt Koch read the message of His Holiness Pope Francis. The two pontiffs greeted and congratulated His Holiness Aram I and thanked him for inviting sister churches and ecumenical representatives to join the Armenian Church in the commemorative events. They also emphasized the special spiritual meaning of sanctifying the one-and-a-half million victims of the Armenian Genocide.
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The Holy Liturgy ended with the Blessing of Water with the new Muron followed by an ecumenical prayer service. At the end of the service Catholicos Aram I led the guests in procession to the St. Martyrs Chapel in Antelias, where the remains of the victims are buried. Each guest prayed, laid a flower and received the blessed water.
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