A cross-stone consecration ceremony was held on October 22 in the yard of the Armenian Apostolic Church Holy Spirit in Amsterdam dedicated to the memory of the casualties of the 44-day war in Artsakh, under the auspices of the Pontifical Delegate of Western Europe Archbishop Khajag Barsamian.
The ceremony was attended by Ambassador of Armenia to the Netherlands, Viktor Biyagov, as well as representatives of various communities in the Netherlands.
The khachkar was installed with the benevolence of Armen Avanesov, a believer of the church. The khachkar was made by Artak Hambardzumyan from Armenia, and, after it arrived from Armenia, was installed in the church yard with the support and patronage of Galust Abrahamyan and Taron Khachatryan.
At the end of the consecration ceremony, Archbishop Barsamian addressed attendees.
“This cross, being blessed and anointed with Holy Myron, became a Holy Cross, a cross before which we must continue to worship, a cross before which we must continue to pray,” said Archbishop Barsamian. “We must pray so that those who sacrificed their lives today and in the past for our motherland, for Artsakh, whose lives became a holy life for our motherland, become an opportunity to inspire us. Let’s pray together in front of this khachkar for the unity of the homeland, Artsakh and Diaspora. Be sure that in our united prayer, we, the children of the Armenian people, will continue to perform miracles.”
In his speech, Ambassador Biyagov emphasized the importance of unity, seeing our strength in unity: “We are united today not only by universal pain, grief, but also by deep pride. This khachkar is proof of the unbreakable will of the Armenian people and exceptional courage to face the challenges of time. Only a strong Armenia and our Church are the guarantors of the security and longevity of the Armenian people. Today’s imperative is to unite all of our forces, both in the homeland and in the diaspora, for the sake of building our dream country.”
In the artistic part of the event, the Sunday school students of “St. Grigor Narekatsi” and Heerhugowaard parishes in Amsterdam, as well as the musicians of the “Armenia” music center, performed.
