24 September 2015 evening. One hundred years after the Genocide, His Holiness Aram I expressed his gratitude to the people of the town of Begnins on behalf of the Armenian Church and people for receiving Armenian orphans of the Genocide and helping them settle in Switzerland. He declared, “In the history of friendship between the Armenian and Swiss people, 24 September will remain an unforgettable date.”
As part of the commemoration to thank the Swiss people, the ARMENOFAS Swiss-Armenian foundation organized the commemorative event in Begnins, over which His Holiness Aram I presided. A number of political personalities, church representatives, children of the descendants of the orphans and about 150 Armenians, living along with Swiss citizens, attended the event.
Mrs Teny Pirri-Simonian, the President of ARMENOFAS, welcomed the guests, and spoke of the work of the Foundation and of Pastor Krafft-Bonnard, who was the pastor of Begnins in the last decade of the 19th Century. Hearing of the atrocities against the Armenians, the pastor visited Turkey, organized a committee and raised funds for the Armenian victims of the Turkish atrocities in Cilicia. He also raised awareness of the suffering of the Armenians through speeches and publications. In 1919, he wrote to U.S. President Wilson, asking him to help to protect the persecuted Armenians. Finally, he brought orphans from the Swiss orphanages in Turkey to Begnins with Armenian personnel, to educate them in the Armenian language and culture. Pastor Krafft-Bonnard then opened a home in Geneva so that the graduates of the Begnins school could continue their education in the Swiss system.
After her brief introduction, Mrs Pirri-Simonian introduced the speakers of the day: Mrs Esther Gaillard, the representative of the Federation of Swiss Protestant Churches, Her Excellency Hasmig Tolmadjian, the Minister Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Armenia, Mr Antoine Nicolas, the Mayor of Begnins, Rev Rudolf Renfer, a member of the ARMENOFAS Board, representing the Swiss Protestant Churches, Mr Serge Yeramian, a descendant of a Begnins orphan, Ms Sévane Haroutiunian, the grandchild of a descendant and Mrs Isabelle Court, the pastor of Begnins. The evening was enriched by the songs of Komitas, performed by the songs of Komitas, performed by three artists, children of the survivors of the Genocide, Mrs Kariné Mkrtchian, Soprano, Mr Grigor Azadian, Tenor and Mrs Luciné Vantsian, Piano.
The commemoration ended with His Holiness Aram I’s reflection and benediction. The Catholicos said that Pastor Antony Krafft-Bonnard personified the love of service to humanity practiced by the Swiss. He noted that while many governments turned their backs on the Armenians in order to protect their own interests, the Swiss became the “Good Samaritan” of the Armenians. He assured the people of Begnins that Armenians would always remember them. At the end of his presentation, His Holiness Aram I gave the Mayor a special commemoration plaque.
The evening concluded with the ‘Kilikia’ song and the blessings of the Catholicos.
