On April 24, the St. Mary’s Monastery in Akhtala served a Holy Mass, which was followed by an intercession performed in memory of the canonized martyrs of the Armenian Genocide. According to Hayern Aysor, among those attending the Holy Mass were Mayor of Akhtala Haik Khachikyan and representatives of the local Armenian community.

In his sermon, Abbot of the St. Mary’s Monasteryin Akhtala, Fr. Priest Hetum Tarverdyan stated that it was the duty of all Armenians to remember all the innocent victims and keep their memory alive. He also urged all Armenians to be aware of the idea that it is the duty of every Armenian to show that Armenians living in different corners of the globe will always protect and demand their national interests and that the Armenians must never forget that they need to demand the establishment of justice for the blood that all the innocent Armenians shed.

After the intercession, His Holiness, the mayor, the members of the local Armenian community and the guests laid a wreath in front of the Armenian cross-stone erected in memory of the victims of the Armenian Genocide in the yard of the monastery in Akhtala.