The Honorary Consulate of the Republic of Armenia in Bari (Puglia district) thanks all those who, on Saturday, April 26, 2025, at 11:00 AM, at the Church of San Gregorio Armeno in Bari Vecchia (next to the Basilica of San Nicola), participated in the Divine Liturgy in the Armenian rite in memory of the Martyrs of the Armenian Genocide.
The celebration was to be officiated by Rev. Fr. Bsag Tepirjian, archimandrite of the Armenian Apostolic Church, who, after arriving in Bari on Friday afternoon, was recalled to the Vatican to attend the funeral of Pope Francis.
The liturgy was led with Charity by Prof. Kegham Boloyan, originally from Aleppo and Deacon of the Armenian Apostolic Church. It represented a moment of spiritual reflection and shared remembrance, in the spirit of historical justice and dignity of the Armenian people who survived annihilation.
During the rite, prayers were offered for the Holy Martyrs of the Armenian Genocide, for the resilience of the Armenian People, for all national leaders to promote Armenian identity, and for Pope Francis, friend of the Armenian People, during his funeral in Rome.
We commemorated about one and a half million victims of the systematic extermination plan carried out by the Ottoman government. Forced deportations, death marches through the Syrian desert, massacres, and every form of violence marked one of the darkest but also one of the most glorious pages of Christianity.
Among millions of martyrs, we remembered the heroic figure of Fr. Francesco Divittorio, a Franciscan missionary from Rutigliano (Bari), who gave his life protecting around 20 Armenian orphans, dying in Mugiuk-Deresì on January 23, 1920.
Despite official denials, the Armenian Genocide is recognized by many cities and institutions in our territory, including the municipalities of Taranto, Canosa, Conversano, San Pietro Vernotico, and San Vito dei Normanni.
The Honorary Consulate of the Republic of Armenia in Bari (Puglia district), which promoted the initiative together with Italo-Armenian associations in Puglia, invites everyone every year not to forget, to educate for peace, and to honor the victims.
Honorary Consul of the Republic of Armenia in Bari
Dario Rupen Timurian
