Q&A: Karekin II | Christianity Today | A Magazine of Evangelical Conviction

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Christianity Today, December, 2007

Q&A: Karekin II

The leader of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Karekin II visited the U.S. in October to support a resolution condemning Turkey's 1915-1917 Armenian genocide.

Denise McGill | posted 11/26/2007 09:55AM

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The leader of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Karekin II visited the U.S. in October to support a resolution condemning Turkey's 1915-1917 Armenian genocide. Voting on the resolution has been postponed indefinitely.

What good do you hope will come out of a U.S. resolution condemning the genocide?

It shows that similar crimes will never be forgotten, and that humanitarianism and justice and truth are always victorious. We believe that through [this resolution], the relationship between Armenians and Turkey will become normalized by freeing Armenians as well as Turks from deep-felt emotions.

Five Christians (one Armenian and four others) have been murdered in Turkey in the last year. Will this resolution make life more difficult for Christians in Turkey?

We are convinced that similar events will stop taking place when the truth is available to the Turkish people. It has only been in the last ten years that Turks have been able to speak openly about the genocide. We are convinced that this process will continue on wider levels and that in the end, Turkey itself will recognize and condemn the Armenian genocide. Our people have no hatred toward the Turkish people. Neither do they have any feelings of revenge. They simply are concerned that righteousness and truth be established in the life of mankind and for our people as well.

CT has spoken with Armenians in Turkey whose safety is at risk right now. What would you say to encourage them?

One year ago, we were in Constantinople, and we spoke about the Armenian genocide. We've had the opportunity to meet with everyday Turkish men and women as well as Turkish authorities, and we do not see a danger. In no uncertain terms, we do not share the position that recognition of the genocide will create a more difficult situation for the people of Turkey. We are not that pessimistic.

How can evangelicals encourage and support the Armenian community?

Put into practice the commandment of the Lord: Love one another and serve one another with love. By serving humanity, you are serving God.

Related Elsewhere:

PontificalVisit.org has extensive information about Karekin II's visit and reprints of press coverage.

The resolution has been shelved, but supporters say it's not dead yet.

More articles on Armenia and Turkey are available in our full coverage areas.

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December 2007, Vol. 51, No. 12

Comments (5)

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faruk

November 30, 2007 12:46am

Dear TM, I beg to differ… Do you not notice dual standards if you set aside the wrong doings of the Armenians towards the Turks which happened at the same time in the same place, and dwell only on Turks punishment of that act? Do the Muslim dead not count, because you consider them less human?

November 28, 2007 9:33am

First, no matter what certain Armenians did during the period, it doesn't diminish the fact that the Talat Pasha et al attempted to cleanse the Ottoman Empire / Turkey of non-Muslims - mainly Armenians. This is a fact acknowledged by everyone except many Turks and a few scholars on Turkey's payroll (and some Jews). One note - Greeks and Armenians have GOT to stop calling Istanbul "Constantinople." It aggrevates Turkey's fear that others are out to get them, take back land, etc. In short, it fans the flames of nationalism.

P Con Holly

November 26, 2007 10:07pm

Surely P.Connoly knows better than the Int'l Association of Genocide Scholars. Surely he is a better expert than the experts themselves. Surely he knows better than Elie Wiesel. Shame on you, Mr. Connoly. Denying the Armenian Genocide is exactly the same thing as denying the Jewish Holocaust. Please take your hate speech to Turkey and to neo-nazi clubs. They would love to feed off your expertise over there.

P. Connolly

November 26, 2007 5:25pm

The interview with Armenian Patriarch Mesrob II is here: http://www.turkishweekly.net/interview.php?id=244

P. Connolly

November 26, 2007 5:14pm

Karekin II does not speak for all Armenians. There is another Armenian Patriarch in Istanbul, Mesrob II, and he is opposed to the "genocide" label -and with good reason. He explains his reasoning here: http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2007/december/10.17.html Modern Turkish People everywhere are opposed to this "genocide" label because it ignores the many innocent Turkish civilians (Moslems) who were tortured and killed by Armenians in the decades of civil unrest that preceded the events of 1915 and because there is no true evidence of a government attempt to exterminate Armenians. All Christians should think twice before advocating a label that disregards the value of a human life. A Moslem life is a human life. The campaign for recognition of a "genocide" against the Armenians is not about Love; it is about hatred for Moslem Turks. Genocide cannot be eliminated by yielding to people who preach such disregard for human life.

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