Istanbul Armenian Patriarch: Neither denial nor hostility can heal wounds

The Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople, Sahag II, has released a statement on Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day.

The statement marks April 24 with remembrance of the “tragedy experienced a century ago” and calls for dialogue, reconciliation, and peaceful coexistence between Armenians and Turks as the basis for addressing historical wounds and building the future.

Below is the full statement released by the Istanbul-based Patriarchate, the autonomous see of the Armenian Apostolic Church. 

Dear faithful people,

Today is once again April 24, a day that calls us to stand with humility before one of the most painful pages of our history. This day brings us back to the memory of the tragedy experienced a century ago, which has left a deep mark on our national and spiritual life.

We remember the losses, deportations, exile, and immeasurable suffering endured by our people during the years of the First World War. This remembrance, however, is not meant only to remain within the dark pages of the past. It is also a call to give meaning to what we have endured and to move forward toward the future.

On this land, where for centuries different peoples lived side by side, the tradition of peaceful coexistence suffered a severe blow during those years. Yet this same geography also reminds us of an inescapable truth: peoples are not condemned to perpetual conflict, but are called to coexistence, dialogue, and mutual understanding.

We must acknowledge that beneath this land lie not only our own sorrows, but also the wounds of others. It is not enough to recount only our own history in order to find a true resolution. We are also obliged to listen to others, to understand their experiences, and to seek common ground that can serve as a foundation for the future.

In this sense, we reaffirm our call for the establishment of peace, reconciliation, and friendship between the Armenian and Turkish peoples. The tragedy of the past should not become a permanent dividing wall, but rather a heavy yet instructive experience from which lessons can be drawn to build a more just and peaceful future.

Neither denial nor hostility can heal wounds. Likewise, political exploitation does not serve the rapprochement of peoples. True progress is born from sincerity, mutual respect, and dialogue grounded in human values.

Therefore, we call on all sides to build bridges of friendship, encourage cultural and economic cooperation, and create an atmosphere in which history can be discussed without fear or hostility, but with a commitment to truth and justice.

We appreciate all steps, past and present, that are directed toward mutual sensitivity and rapprochement. In this context, it is also worth mentioning the annual messages of His Excellency Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, President of the Republic of Türkiye, on April 24, which are also addressed to the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople and our community. The _expression_ of condolence in these messages and the respect shown for the memory of those who lost their lives among our people under the difficult conditions of the First World War are, in our view, important steps toward the formation of an atmosphere of mutual understanding.

We value these messages as an _expression_ of human conscience and as gestures that can contribute to the gradual restoration of trust between peoples. Such approaches remind us that even in the face of the heaviest historical burdens, it is possible to choose the path of mutual respect and communication.

Today, on this day of remembrance for the holy martyrs, we turn to their intercession. Through their lives and martyrdom, they have become not only part of our memory but also living witnesses of our faith. They call us not to remain in the darkness of the past, but to live with hope and build the future.

As the prophetic word says: “Behold, I am doing a new thing” (Isaiah 43:19). We must seek this newness in our hearts by transforming our thoughts and attitudes.

Beloved,

May this day of remembrance become not only an occasion of mourning, but also of renewal. May God, in His mercy, touch our hearts and those of our neighbors, so that we may pass beyond the heavy shadows of the past and build a future based on justice, peace, and brotherhood.

May Almighty God, through the intercession of the Holy Mother of God and all our holy martyrs, bless the Armenian and Turkish peoples, guide them toward reconciliation and peaceful coexistence, and remove wars and hatred from the world.

May the love, mercy, and grace of God dwell within us and upon all humanity, now and always, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.”