Prayers sent out to end the conflict

Toronto Sun, Canada
June 26 2006

By BRIAN GRAY, TORONTO SUN

Toronto’s Armenian community — many with family members living in
Lebanon and around the Middle East — prayed for peace last night in
a North York church.

"My sister and my brothers are in Beirut and I pray everyday for
their safety, but it feels good to get together with everyone and
pray as one," Talar Harkidian said. "We don’t choose sides we only
choose peace."

Harkidian was one of several hundred from different denominations —
including Armenian, Greek and Assyrian Orthodox and Catholic churches
and Lebanese Maronites — invited to St. Mary’s Apostolic Armenian
Church near Victoria Park and Sheppard Ave. E.

"We are here on this occasion for a mass for peace," said Pastor
Meyhrig Parikian, who led the prayers and said the congregation wasn’t
choosing sides. "We pray for peace all over the world."

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Emil Lazarian

“I should like to see any power of the world destroy this race, this small tribe of unimportant people, whose wars have all been fought and lost, whose structures have crumbled, literature is unread, music is unheard, and prayers are no more answered. Go ahead, destroy Armenia . See if you can do it. Send them into the desert without bread or water. Burn their homes and churches. Then see if they will not laugh, sing and pray again. For when two of them meet anywhere in the world, see if they will not create a New Armenia.” - WS