Wisconsin Community Gathers for Prayer Vigil for Genocide Victims

By Levon A. Saryan

RACINE, Wisc.—Rain threatened at Monument Square in downtown Racine as over 200 Armenians and friends, carrying white wooden crosses, gathered for an interdenominational prayer vigil in honor of the victims of the 1915 Armenian Genocide and other genocides over the past century. The vigil, which took place Sunday afternoon, April 12, is one of several commemorative events planned in Wisconsin on the occasion of the Centennial.

Children holding the Centennial banner at the Racine Prayer Vigil, with Rev. Fr. Yeprem Kelegian (far right) and Rev. Daron Stepanian (holding cross).

Participating in the vigil were Rev. Father Daron Stepanian, pastor of St. Hagop Armenian Apostolic Church, and Rev. Father Yeprem Kelegian, pastor of St. Mesrob Armenian Church, both of Racine, as well as representatives of local Roman Catholic and Protestant churches. The vigil was planned by the Wisconsin Armenian Genocide Centennial Committee in conjunction with the Racine Interfaith Coalition. Prayers, musical selections, and personal testimonies were offered in a moving tribute to the martyrs of 1915.

Julie Der Garabedian of St. Hagop read a poem dedicated to Armenian refugees, written by the commander of the Salvation Army. Archdeacon Stepan Frounjian offered a rendition of the hymn “Yeghitsi Anoon Dyarn Ohrnial” (“May the Lord’s Name Be Blessed”) with guitar accompaniment.

Fr. Yeprem, in his remarks, pointed out the great losses suffered by the Armenian people and their church as a result of the genocide. Of 6,000 Armenian priests worldwide before 1915, only 500 survived. Fr. Daron noted how an Armenian victim from Moush fled to Russian Armenia carrying the door to his church on his back, to save it from destruction. He mentioned how Armenian survivors came to America and made important contributions to their adopted country. Deacon Greg Petro of St. Rita’s Catholic Church, and others, pointed to the similarity of the fate endured by the Armenians with subsequent oppression and persecution of minorities taking place in the Middle East and elsewhere.

One hundred large white crosses—one for each year that has passed since 1915—were prepared specifically for the

Attendees at the Racine Prayer Vigil holding memorial crosses.

event. The crosses were inscribed in memory of the “martyrs of the Armenian Genocide 1915-2015” and adorned with the forget-me-not flower symbolizing the 100^th anniversary. Sarkis and John Buchaklian of Racine prepared the crosses and Khatchig Kafafian of Detroit produced the labels.

Excellent local coverage of the vigil was provided in the Racine Journal Times newspaper on April 13.