Today we the 100 year memorial of the beginning of the Armenian Genocide. It has been a time of profound reflection for me as I have reflected on the tragic history of the Christian community in Armenia. This community of faith was among the first to put their faith in Jesus, and were also among the first to suffer persecution for their faith. This trend has, unfortunately, continued. Christians in this area have suffered at the hands of many. They have suffered under those follow other faiths, but have also suffered under those how have claimed to serve the cross. They have seen their populations killed, their sacred spaces destroyed, their culture marginalized and yet the faith of many has remained.

This is inspiring to me.

As we live in a time when many of our brothers and sisters are being systematically executed for faith in Christ and many of these early faith communities I look to the martyrs who have gone before. Pray for us, holy men and women of God. May we remain worthy of the promises of Jesus Christ and live in the Grace won for us in his pascal gift.

I have included an Armenian requiem to help us remember those who have suffered for their faith. May their memory be eternal. The lyrics are as follows:

Lord have compassion on the souls of our departed, and mercifully remember them, for they are the price of thy holy blood; when at the marvelous sound of the trumpet the dead shall arise and stand before thy majestic judgment seat.

Requiem hymn of compassion,sung for the repose of souls,

based upon 1 Corinthians 6:20 and 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.