BEIRUT — On the occasion of the 111th anniversary of the Armenian, Syriac and Kafno Genocide, the President of the Universal Syriac Union Party (USUP) Ibrahim Mrad headed a delegation to visit the Syriac Orthodox St. Ephrem Church in Achrafieh, seat of the Syriac Orthodox Archdiocese of Beirut. They were received by Archbishop Mor Daniel Gouwrieh and Father Charbel Bahi.

During the visit, a wreath was laid at the Sayfo Martyrs Memorial, and prayers were held for the souls of the martyrs. Archbishop Gouwrieh affirmed that the blood of the martyrs will remain a beacon of steadfastness, and that the people will stay rooted in their land, firm in their struggle for truth, justice, and existence. He also expressed his gratitude to the USUP and all those who faithfully uphold the cause of the Church and nation.

The delegation then headed to the Armenian Orthodox Catholicosate in Antelias, where they were received by Bishop Mor Dajad Ashekian, Head of the Catholicosate Chancellery of the Armenian Orthodox Church of Cilicia, along with officials from the Patriarchate’s institutions. There, the delegation laid a wreath at the Armenian Genocide Martyrs Memorial, and prayers were offered for the souls of the martyrs.

On this occasion, the USUP reaffirmed its steadfast commitment to continuing political and legal struggle in defense of the martyrs’ memory, upholding historical justice, and preserving the existence and dignity of the Syriac people in their homeland.

It is worth noting that the Zahle branch of the USUP had participated in commemorating the 111th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, in response to an invitation from the Armenian Church in Zahle. A delegation from the branch, headed by Rabih Azouki, laid a wreath on behalf of the USUP at the memorial in the courtyard of St. Gregory the Illuminator Church, honoring the martyrs of the Armenian Genocide, and commemorating the martyrs of the Sayfo Genocide that targeted the Syriac people, as well as the martyrs of the Mount Lebanon famine, known as Kafno.