On January 31, Mitropolit Rastislavof the Orthodox Church of the Czech Republic and Slovakia and Archbishop Yuray Stransky of Mikhayelovitse and Koshitse served a Holy Mass in memory of the victims of the Armenian Genocide at the Saint Jan Milostivi (sv. Jána Milostivého) Cathedral of the Slovakian city of Koshitse, reports Orer magazine of the Czech Republic to Hayern Aysor.

The Holy Mass was broadcast live on Slovakia’s second television channel. Among the gathered were several faithful citizens of Koshitse and representatives of the local Armenian community. The Holy Mass was followed by the order of consecration of the Armenian khachkar (cross-stone) dedicated to the memory of the victims of the Armenian Genocide placed in the yard of the Church. Among the participants of the ceremony were Mitropolit Rastislav of the Orthodox Church of the Czech Republic and Slovakia, representative of the Catholicos of All Armenians, Bishop Anushavan Zhamkochyan; Patriarchal Delegate of the countries of Central Europe and Scandinavia, Archimandrite Tiran Petrosyan and pastor of Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia, Archimandrite Barsegh Pilavchyan. With an official invitation, Armenia’s Ambassador to the Czech Republic and Slovakia Tigran Seyranyan was also attending the event.

A large delegation led by benefactor Hrachya Poghosyan had arrived from Saint Petersburg to participate in the ceremony of consecration of the khachkar. Poghosyan had covered the expenses for the making, transfer and placement of the khachkar.

The idea of placing a khachkar was born during the meeting of Dean of the Faculty of Theology of Yerevan State University, Bishop Anushavan Zhamkochyan and Archbishop Georgy (Yura) of Mikhayelovitse and Koshitse in Yerevan in April 2015.

The ceremony of consecration was followed by an official lunch, after which the clergy and Armenia’s Ambassador visited the business area of Koshitse’s Armenian businessman Zhora Chukuryan, who has helped build an Armenian chapel in the area.