The highest-ranking officials of the Shirak province, including Governor Tigran Petrosyan and Mayor of Gyumri Samvel Balasanyan, paid respects to the victims of the Armenian Genocide by laying flowers by the Herher or Jardi Canyon. A ceremony was held at the Rebirth monument at the Gyumri Friendship Park by the Primate of the Shirak Diocese, Bishop Mikayel Ajapayan.
Then, the province’s officials visited the Kharkov village, which is separated from the Ani ruins only by a canyon. A historical event took place here; at the initiative of 3 Russian-Armenians, the Armenian tricolor 5 by 10 meters in size and a memorial stone cross were erected in the village.
The governor of Shirak, Tigran Petrosyan, said during a live video in the Kharkov village, “We are currently near the historical city of Ani. Today is a very symbolic and important day. The day is dedicated to the memory of the innocent victims of the Armenian Genocide, but a great ceremony is about to take place. Thanks to the efforts of the Aslanyan, Grigoryan, and Khranyan families, a 5-meter wide Armenian tricolor flag will be placed across from the ruins of Ani. The tricolor and the monument have special meaning: “We are, we shall be, and we shall yet become many.” The borders, which have weakened and become abandoned throughout the years, have a lack of an Armenian atmosphere. However, we have created that atmosphere.”
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The three Russian-Armenian families visited the Kharkov village near the Armenian-Turkish border. When they saw that the Armenian flag in place was small and the Turkish flag was much larger, they built the monuments and the 24-meter high flagpole, which the Armenian flag will be hung from. They organized this in a matter of only 3 or 4 days.
“No matter where we are and no matt
er where we live, we will be demanding. We need to remember our homeland,” one of the investors said.
A blessing ceremony took place, where Armenian folk singer Murad Malkhasyan sang, “Let Me See Ani Before I Die” and other patriotic songs.
Nune Arevshatyan
