ANTELIAS–Lebanon–His Holiness Aram I– Catholicos of the Holy See of Cilicia Monday awarded Genocide Scholar Professor Vahakn Dadrian with the "St. Mesrob Mashdots" Medal. The ceremony took place at Bigfaya Zarehian Seminary in Lebanon.
Present at the event were Prelate Kegham Khatcerian of Lebanon–Bishop Vartan Ashkarian–Bishop Paul Haydostian–Parliamentary Representative Sebouh Hovnanian–members of parliament Srpaham Dedeyian and Yeghig Jeredian–Armenian Ambassador to Lebanon Arman Navasartian and other community leaders and organization heads.
The opening remarks were made by Bishop Bartev Gouloumian who also presented Dadrian’s biography and his work as one of the leading Genocide scholars.
During his commen’s Catholicos Aram I stated that the Armenian Genocide would have become just another event that took place in history if it was not for the work of Dadrian. "Due to his constant research and efforts–Dadrian placed the issue of the Genocide in front of the eyes of the international community," said the Catholicos.
After being awarded the medal–Dadrian started to explain why he had started to do research on the Genocide. He also stated that his hard work is dedicated to the memory of 1.5 million Armenia’s who were murdered during the Genocide. Dadrian said that he expresses his anger and rage to all those who continue to deny the Genocide by writing his books. He ended his speech by reciting a prayer he had learn while he was a child in Istanbul.