Providence honors Armenian martyrs
On Sunday, April 27, 2025, the Armenian Martyrs’ Memorial Committee of Rhode Island commemorated the 110th anniversary of the 1915 Armenian Genocide at the Martyrs’ Monument in North Burial Ground, Providence, Rhode Island. A service in remembrance of the Holy Martyrs was held, beginning with a large procession of flag bearers, clergy, invited guests and wreath presenters. The procession was accompanied by able-bodied honor guards from the Armenian Masonic Degree Team, Homenetmen Scouts and Knights of Vartan Arax Tahlij.
A beautiful hymn was sung by choir members from the three local Armenian churches under the direction of Maestro Konstantin Petrossian. Officiating clergy included Rev. Fr. Kapriel Nazarian, Rev. Fr. Kapriel Mouradjian, Rev. Fr. Nigoghos Aznavourian, Rev. Dr. Ara Heghinian and Rev. Hagop Manjelikian, with the assistance of deacons and participants from the Armenian Evangelical Church, Saints Sahag and Mesrob Armenian Church and Sts. Vartanantz Armenian Church.
The service began with the recitation of “The Lord’s Prayer” (“Hayr Mer”) by the clergy and congregation, followed by readings from St. Paul’s Letter to the Hebrews and the Holy Gospel according to St. John, the Litany of The Saints, and concluded with the choir and congregation singing “The Lord’s Prayer.” In addition, soloist Joanne Mouradjian sang a beautiful rendition of “Hrashatsan Bagootsmamp” in honor of the Holy Martyrs.
Brett Smiley, the 39th mayor of Providence, welcomed the community to the city, home to the 29-foot-tall Martyrs’ Monument. Keynote speakers Henry C. Theriault, Ph.D. and Ani Avetyan provided powerful and complementary perspectives. Each addressed current affairs in Armenia, with Avetyan, in particular, emphasizing the ongoing threats to the Syunik region, where Azerbaijan and Turkey have expressed territorial ambitions. Both speakers urged the community to continue telling the story of the 1915 Armenian Genocide, especially in light of history repeating itself through the 2023 ethnic cleansing of Armenians in Artsakh and ongoing concerns in Syunik.
Dr. Theriault is Associate Provost at Worcester State University (WSU), where he coordinated the university’s Human Rights Center from 1999 to 2007. With a background in radical social and political as well as continental philosophy, his research focuses on genocide denial, genocide prevention, post-genocide victim-perpetrator relations, reparations and mass violence against women and girls.
Ani Avetyan is a senior news anchor at Alpha News, a leading pan-Armenian channel, where she reports on critical issues affecting Armenia, including the occupation of Artsakh, denial of the Armenian Genocide, and the foreign policies of Turkey and Azerbaijan. Her special project, “The Real Turkey,” delves into the complexities of Turkey’s political landscape and its historical and contemporary policies, emphasizing that Turkey and Azerbaijan are not invincible forces.
Following the guest speakers, and much to the delight of the approximately 300 attendees, the Armenian schoolchildren of Saints Sahag and Mesrob Armenian Church and Sts. Vartanantz Armenian Church performed “Hayastan” under the direction of Raffi Rachdouni, accompanied by Maestro Petrossian. Through faith, culture and long-standing traditions—and in this case, the talented voices of youth—Armenians continue to persevere and shine.
Next, Pauline Getzoyan, co-chair of the Rhode Island branch of the Genocide Education Project, presented the Genocide Educator of the Year award to Jennifer Sapolsky of Barrington High School. Sapolsky teaches a genocide elective course that includes the Armenian Genocide as a central focus.
Several elected officials were invited to speak at the Commemoration, including the Honorable Dan McKee, the 76th Governor of the State of Rhode Island; United States Senator Jack Reed; and Rhode Island Senate Majority Whip David Tikoian. Other political leaders in the audience were recognized individually.
Although much has changed over the years, the Armenian Martyrs’ Memorial Committee of Rhode Island has, for the past 48 years, remained steadfast in honoring the memory of our departed martyrs who were canonized in 2015. We must never forget!
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