23 April: Church ceremony and march with candles

On April 23 at 19:00, within the scope of the events dedicated to the 103^rd anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, an Intercession for the Holy Martyrs ceremony was held at St. Stephen’s Church of New Julfa, followed by a march with candles to the Holy Savior Monastery where candles were placed around the monument to the Holy Martyrs of the Armenian Genocide and the remains of the martyrs brought from Deir ez-Zor and a speech by Deputy of the Armenians of Isfahan and Southern Iran in the Islamic Parliament of Iran Zhorzhik Abrahamian. The Master of Ceremonies was Adrineh Ghevian.

24 April: Holy Mass, laying of wreaths and flowers and march

On the morning of April 24, under the chairmanship of Primate of the Armenian Diocese of Isfahan, Bishop Sipan Kechejian, Priest Vardan Aghbabian served a Divine and eternal Liturgy at the Hovsep Arematatsi Church of the Holy Savior Monastery. The ceremony was performed to the sounds of the songs sung by Komitas Choir of the Holy Savior Monastery. After the ceremony, by laying flowers near the monument to the Holy Martyrs, the clergy, national bodies, members of the Armenian National Committee, the administrations, teachers and parent councils of Armenian national schools, the boards of unions and associations, choirs, members of the Scouts Union of Ararat Armenian Sport and Cultural Association of New Julfa, members of the Commemoration Committee for the 103^rd Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide and thousands of other sons of the Armenian nation respected the memory of the canonized martyrs of the Armenian Genocide.

The flower-laying ceremony was followed by a march through the major avenues of New Julfa. During the march, the resolution of the 103^rd Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide Commemoration Committee was read in Farsi, and a word of gratitude was expressed to the representatives of Isfahan for granting permission for the march and ensuring safety.

On the evening of 24 April, the hall of Ararat Armenian Sport and Cultural Union of New Julfa hosted a lecture and concert.

The opening remarks were followed by a speech by Secretary of the Diocesan Council of the Armenian Diocese Sonik Baghumian, after which the Primate of the Diocese delivered a lecture. The concert featured performances by singers Armen Hovhannisyan and Hakob Hakobyan from Armenia, members of Komitas Youth Choir of the Holy Savior Monastery and the members of the senior and junior dance groups and recitation group of Krunk Ensemble of the Cultural Unit of Ararat Armenian Sport and Cultural Union of New Julfa.

The Master of Ceremonies was Martuni Khachikian.

It should be mentioned that the blood transfusion organization of Isfahan hosted a blood drive, which was held as part of the events dedicated to the 103^rd anniversary of the Armenian Genocide and with the participation of members of the Armenian community.

On April 18 and 20, schoolchildren of Armenian national schools participated in a workshop devoted to the Armenian Genocide in the yard of the Holy Savior Monastery.

On April 21 and 22, schoolchildren held a meeting/laying of flowers and wreaths near the Holy Martyrs monument.

Members of the Tadeos Tadeosian Youth Union had created an interesting picture, and the people made it complete by painting it. This symbolized national unity.

Yeranush Tahmazian

Iran-Isfahan (New Julfa)

Photos by Gevik Khachatryan and Yervanush Tahmazian