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HOLY MARTYRS ICON OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE: is a unique work in Armenian iconography. The collective image represents Armenian men, women, elderly and children who were martyred for the sake of their Faith and for the sake of their Homeland. The Holy Martyrs are depicted in their daily attire, in situations that represent all the classes of society in Western Armenia, including clergymen, intellectuals, musicians, school children, farmers and the people.

Although the subjects in the icon are presented in a group as a whole, the artist uses different motives to depict each individual and distinctive in character. Saints rising to the heavens are depicted in the center of the image, while Seraphs, the Lord and the Holy Spirit in the shape of a Dove are placed in the upper section receiving the Divine Liturgy for the Martyrs of the Armenian nation. Divine Liturgy is being received, because the Holy Church of Christ, symbolically, the Body of God, was raised to the heavens through Genocide.

In the iconic image, the martyrs embody Lord Jesus Christ. And just as the Lord was killed, crucified and buried, yet “overcame” death, and won through His Glorious Resurrection. So too the Armenians went through martyrdom, yet gained immortality through the power of the Holy Resurrection. Thus, they are decorated with wreaths that do not wilt, so that they may bear witness and be patron of the Powerful Church – the Church that won.

Scattered around the Holy Martyrs the shattered and desecrated sanctuaries of the Armenians are depicted as half destructed, silently bearing witness to the cultural genocide of the Armenian Nation and the lost sector of the Armenian Homeland.

The Holy Martyrs icon represents the history of the Armenian Genocide and conveys the powerful message that every Armenian must always be ready to defend the Faith and his Homeland.

“Holy Martyrs” icon was painted by the gifted painter Tigran Barkhanajyan on the occasion of the Canonization ceremony, consecrated on April 23, 2015 (centennial of the Genocide), at the Mother See of Holy Echmiadzin, under the high direction and direct patronage of Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II.

Source: 

― Armenian Gallery ― 

Treasures of Holy Echmiadzin

"Holy Martyrs" icon of the Armenian Genocide

Holy Etchmiadzin, 2015

Painting by – Tigran Barkhanajyan

Photographer – Zaven Khachikyan