Armenian church approves ‘collective canonization’ of genocide victims

October 04, 2013

At the conclusion of a recent synod, the Armenian Apostolic Church announced that it approved “in principle” the “collective canonization” of the victims of the Armenian Genocide, which took place in 1915 and claimed an estimated 1.5 million victims.

Father Georges Dankaye, rector of the Pontifical Armenian College, told the Fides news agency that the Armenian Apostolic Church has not conducted any canonizations since the sixth century.

The Armenian Apostolic Church, which ceased to be in communion with the Holy See following the Council of Chalcedon in 451, has six million members; the Armenian Catholic Church, an Eastern Catholic church in full communion with the Holy See, has 375,000 members.

 

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Further information:

• Close of the Bishops Synod of the Armenian Apostolic Church (Armenian Apostolic Church)
• President Sargsyan says canonization of Armenian Genocide victims deserves special attention of bishops’ synod (ARKA)
• The victims of the Armenian genocide might be canonized (Fides)
• The Armenian Apostolic Church (CNEWA)