It will have been 96 years to the date on April 24, 2011 since the implementation of the bloodiest phase of the Armenian Genocide – the first genocide of the 20th century. As a result of carefully planned and systematically performed measures aimed at the total extermination of the Armenian population by the Ottoman Empire, more than 1.5 million innocent Armenians died in their homeland as well as abroad. Because of this, Western Armenia was deprived of its native population who had been living there for thousands of years.

This crime against humanity has been qualified as genocide and has been condemned by a number of states and international organizations, such as the European Parliament, the Council of Europe, the UN War Crimes Commission, Uruguay, Greece, Switzerland, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Netherlands, Sweden, the Russian Federation, Poland, Lithuania, Slovakia, Cyprus, Argentina, Venezuela, Chili, Canada, Vatican, Australia, and 43 out of 50 states in the United States of America.

This year, Easter coincides with Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day. The General Secretary of The World Council of Churches (WCC), Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit and the Interim General Secretary of the Conference of European Churches (CEC), Rev. Prof. Dr Viorel Ionita on April 13, 2011 issued a joint message calling upon all their member churches to join with the Armenian people in offering their prayers for the 1.5 million victims of the Armenian Genocide and all other victims of genocide on Easter Sunday 2011.

It should be mentioned that on April 11, 2005, the Presidium of the Conference of European Churches joined the World Council of Churches in inviting all of its member churches "to make April 24 a Day of Memory of the Armenian Genocide".

We, the Georgian citizens of Armenian heritage believe that the Parliament and the Government of Georgia, will in the near future recognize and will condemn the Armenian Genocide, thus contributing to the global mission of preventing and recognizing this kind of crime against humanity in the future.

The Diocese of Armenian Apostolic Holy Orthodox Church in Georgia, with assistance from the Embassy of the Republic of Armenia in Georgia and other organizations within the Armenian community in Georgia will organize the following events this year in Tbilisi to remember the victims of the Armenian Genocide:

1. April 18, 17.00 – A performance from Giovanni Pergolesi's "Stabat Mater", performed by choirs of the Surb Gevorg and the Surb Etchmiadzin Churches

Address: Tbilisi, Surb Etchmiadzin Church, 19 Ketevan Tsamebuli Avenue

2. April 18, 18.00 – A presentation of the book "Armenian Genocide in the Ottoman Empire" (in Georgian) in the National Library of the Parliament of Georgia

Address: Tbilisi, 7 Lado Gudiashvili Street

3. April 22, 17.00 – An evening of classical music in the Sheraton Metekhi Hotel, performed by pianist Hayk Melikyan (Armenia) and by actors of the Petros Adamyan Armenian State Dramaturgic Theater of Tbilisi

Also taking place in the Sheraton Metekhi Hotel, will be a photo-exhibition of archival photos from the Armenian Genocide and an exhibition of graphical works by Nino Pirtskhalaisvhili (Georgia)

Address: Tbilisi, 20 Telavi Street

4. April 23, 20.30 – A procession with torches from the Surb Gevorg Church to the Embassy of Turkey in Tbilisi

Address: Tbilisi, 35 Chavchavadze Avenue

5. April 24, 11.00 – Holy Easter Liturgy in the Surb Gevorg and the Surb Etchmiadzin Churches

Address: Tbilisi, Surb Gevorg Church, 5 Samghebro Street and Surb Etchmiadzin Church, 19 Ketevan Tsamebuli Avenue

6. April 24, 13.10 – Requiem in the "Khojivank" Pantheon of Armenian Writers and Public Figures

7. April 24, 14.30 – A protest demonstration in front of the Embassy of Turkey in Tbilisi

Address: Tbilisi, 35 Chavchavadze Avenue

8. April 29, 18.00 – An evening of spiritual and classical music performed by choirs of the Surb Gevorg and the Surb Etchmiadzin Churches

Address: Tbilisi, Surb Etchmiadzin Church, 19 Ketevan Tsamebuli Avenue

Press Service of the Diocese of Armenian Apostolic Holy Orthodox Church in Georgia