FaithMarks on April 24, 2025: The Armenian Genocide

Today we pause to remember a dark chapter in history—the Armenian Genocide. A tragedy of unimaginable scale that began on this day, 109 years ago.

On April 24, 1915, Ottoman authorities arrested over 200 Armenian intellectuals and leaders in Constantinople. This marked the beginning of a systematic campaign to eliminate the Armenian people—most of whom were Christians.

Over the next several years, 1.5 million Armenians were killed through mass executions, forced marches, starvation, and disease. Many were deported into the Syrian desert with no provisions, while others were forced into Islamization, primarily women and children. Entire communities were wiped out.

The genocide was carried out under the cover of World War I, while the world’s attention was directed elsewhere. Eyewitnesses included missionaries, diplomats, and soldiers who reported on the horrors. One of them called it “a massacre without parallel.”

The Armenian Church is one of the oldest Christian traditions in the world. According to tradition, the church originated as a result of the mission work of the Apostles Bartholomew and Thaddeus in the First Century. This ancient Christian community was devastated as monasteries, churches, and communities were destroyed. But the faith of the survivors endured.

The Surp Asdvadzadzin Church from afar (Source: Houshamadyan)

The word “genocide” didn’t exist at the time. It was coined later by Raphael Lemkin, who cited the Armenian tragedy as a key example. Even today, many nations still wrestle with whether or not to officially recognize it. Though President Ronald Regan recognized it as a genocide, the United States never officially recognized the Armenian Genocide until 2019.

Such recognition does matter. To remember is to honor the victims. To speak the truth is to resist denial. To learn this history is to prevent future atrocities. As Christians, we should pray for peace, remember martyrs who died for their faith in Jesus, and stand for all persecuted peoples around the world.

“Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.” – Psalm 116:15