PanARMENIAN.Net - The tragedy of the past should become not a permanent dividing wall, but a hard, yet instructive experience from which lessons can be drawn to build a more just and peaceful future, Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople Sahak Archbishop Mashalian said in a message marking the 111th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.
He added that "neither denial nor hostility can heal wounds," Armenpress reported.
"Dear faithful people, today is again April 24. This day takes us back a century to the memory of the tragedy we experienced, which has left a deep mark on our national and spiritual life.
...But this remembrance is not meant to remain confined to the dark pages of the past. It is also a call to reflect on what we have lived through and to turn toward the future.
Geography also reminds us of an inevitable truth-that peoples are not condemned to eternal confrontation, but are called to coexistence, dialogue and mutual understanding. We must accept that beneath this land lie not only our pain, but also the wounds of others. We are obliged to listen to others, understand their experiences and try to find 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 message said.
It also noted that political exploitation does not serve rapprochement between peoples.
"We call on all sides to develop bridges of friendship, encourage cultural and economic cooperation, and create an environment where history can be discussed without fear and hostility, but with a pursuit of truth and justice. We value all steps aimed at mutual sensitivity and rapprochement.
The annual messages issued by Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on April 24, addressed also to the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople and our community, are also noteworthy. The expressed condolences and respect for the memory of our people who lost their lives during the difficult conditions of World War I are, in our view, important steps toward forming an atmosphere of mutual understanding," the message said.
Mashalian added that the canonized martyrs urge "not to remain in the darkness of the past, but to live with hope and build the future."
Source: PanArmenian.Net
