On Apr. 26, the Local Archives of Gulling (Denmark), the RA Embassy and Oder Municipality held an event dedicated to the 99^th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide and the consecration of a cross-stone in Gulling, which is the birthplace of great pro-Armenian figure Karen Eppe.

The event began with a Requiem Mass served by the Patriarchal Delegate of Central Europe and Scandinavia, Very Rev. Archimandrite Tiran Petrosyan and spiritual pastor of the Swedish-Armenians, Archimandrite Yeghishe Avetisyan at the church in Gulling.

Afterwards, Governor of Armenia’s Armavir province Ashot Ghahramanyan, who was attending the event, and Director of Gulling’s Local Archives Mogens Hoimark held the opening of the cross-stone placed near the monument to Karen Eppe.

Among the speakers at the event were RA Ambassador to Denmark Hrachya Aghajanyan, Mayor of Oder Uffe Ensen, Governor of Armenia’s Armavir province Ashot Ghahramanyan, Director of Gulling’s Local Archives Mogens Hoimark, President of the Board of Trustees of the Hans Christian Cofoed Charitable Foundation Dzonik Margaryan, President of the Dan Armen Armenian-Danish Association Ole Meldgaard and member of the council of Ararat Union Mariam Gdigyan.

In his speech, Ambassador Aghajanyan mentioned that several Armenian orphans, widows and children were saved with the prayers and through the actions of Karen Eppe and Maria Jacobsen. “Karen Eppe and Maria Jacobsen helped save people’s lives, but they also helped save human values and ideals, showing the power of devotion, faith and responsibility. These ideals and values can help change this world because they are genuine,” the Ambassador said.

Ambassador Aghajanyan also talked about an initiative, which is aimed at reestablishing the Danish Friends of Armenia pro-Armenian organization that existed in Denmark in the early 20^th century ahead of the Armenian Genocide Centennial. The organization will become a coordinating organization for Danish charitable and humanitarian organizations involved with issues concerning Armenia and for individuals.

In his speech, the governor of Armenia’s Armavir province mentioned that for Karen Eppe, the most acceptable homage was when a person has been saved and lives his life again, and he was able to pave a new way for Armenian women and children who were saved by a miracle, providing them with education, giving them hope and instilling faith in the future. The Armenian people remember and will always remember him.

Mayor of Oder spoke on behalf of himself and on behalf of the city council and mentioned that he takes pride in having a compatriot like Karen Eppe. According to the mayor, Karen Eppe’s example shows that even one person’s activities can have a great impact and can make a change. The mayor expressed gratitude to the Armenian authorities for donating the Armenian cross-stone, as well as to the Local Archives of Gulling for keeping the memory of Karen Eppe alive. “The cross-stone not only eternalizes Karen Eppe, but also symbolizes the friendship between the Danish and the Armenians,” the mayor of Oder said.

After the blessing of the cross-stone, the priest of the Assyrian community of Denmark said a prayer and conveyed his good wishes to the Armenian people.

Afterwards, historian, genocide expert Matthias Bjornlund gave a speech at the school in Gulling and presented his book “Armenian Genocide: From Start to Finish”. After the event, the gathered gave a long, standing ovation to the relatives of Karen Eppe as a token of their appreciation.

The participants of the event also had the chance to visit the Gulling Local Archives located not far from the school and became familiar with the documents and photos showing the activities that Karen Eppe had carried out in Aleppo.

Among the participants of the event were several members of the Armenian communities of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, as well as several Danish and media representatives, reports the RA MFA press office to “Hayern Aysor”.