14.11.2024
Dublin Armenians Join Global Wave of Prayer for Hostages
Members of the Armenian Community in Ireland gathered together to remember and pray for the release of the Armenian detainees being held in Azerbaijan prisons on Sunday last, November 10. The Dublin service was part of a wave of services of solidarity organised by the Armenian diaspora around the globe at the weekend. They were organised to coincide with the beginning of COP29 in Azerbaijan the following day which sees world leaders gathering in the country to discuss the climate crisis.
A religious ceremony was held in Christ Church Taney Parish in Dublin organised by the Armenian Church’s Dublin Parish Council. The service was led by Bishop Hovakim Manukyan, Primate of the Diocese of the UK and Ireland of the Armenian Apostolic Church, who travelled from London. He was accompanied by Archbishop Michael Jackson.
Bishop Hovakim spoke of how the Armenian community at home and around the world, came together to pray for the release of these detainees. He said that the Azerbaijan authorities had made up false charges against the prisoners in order to tell the international community they were carrying out a special operation against a criminal organisation rather than ethnic cleansing of the region.
At the service, Bishop Hovakim spoke about his recent visit to Armenia where he was accompanied by Archbishop Jackson. He told the congregation of a group of children who had been forced to flee their homes in Artsakh. These children, who had left with practically nothing, were now being looked after by the Church in Armenia. He appealed to the congregation present to make a donation towards helping these young children this winter as they settle into their new surroundings away from their ancestral home.
Young Armenian children living in Ireland read out prayers of intercession for the early release of the detainees. Bishop Hovakim commented on how touched he was to hear these young children come forward to offer their prayers of intercession.
Archbishop Jackson said he empathised with the plight of the prisoners being held. He said no matter how hopeless the situation, praying always gave hope to those in their most desperate times. The Church always provided a beacon of hope, truth and light to those in despair, he stated. He thanked the Rector of Taney, the Revd Nigel Pierpoint, for making Taney Church available to the Armenian community. The Archbishop added that the flag which is on display in the church, depicting the Cross surrounded by the Pomegranate and the Shamrock, the symbols of Armenia and Ireland, meant a great deal to him symbolising the joining together of the two Christian communities from both countries.
Speaking after the service, Bishop Hovakim explained that the services took place worldwide to draw attention to the ethnic cleansing of Armenians being carried out by Azerbaijan at a time when world leaders were gathering in the country. “With COP29 Ilham Aliyev [the President of Azerbaijan] is trying to get away with what he is doing so we are raising awareness internationally. This is not only about Armenians but about human rights and freedom of choice. If he succeeds, other dictators will be emboldened,” he said.
Just over a year ago the Armenian population was forced to leave Nagorno–Karabakh. At least 23 ethnic Armenians remain in detention in Baku prisons, despite international calls for their release. Armenians claim that the government is greenwashing the political prisoner situation. There is a huge Armenian diaspora around the world and they have assisted in raising awareness in their communities.