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Beirut, April 24, 2026 — Haigazian University solemnly commemorated the 111th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, honoring the memory of the 1.5 million victims while reaffirming its enduring commitment to historical truth, justice, and the preservation of Armenian identity.
On the evening of April 24, members of the Haigazian University community gathered in the Mugar Garden for a moving ceremony marked by light, music, reflection, and prayer. In a solemn circle, participants paid tribute through candles, white flowers, and shared silence, placing blossoms beneath the symbolic “Forget Me Not” monument in remembrance of the victims of the Armenian Genocide (1915–1923).
The commemoration extended beyond remembrance alone. It stood as a collective affirmation of dignity, justice, rebirth, and the enduring moral responsibility to remember. The gathering also honored the memory of all victims of crimes against humanity, across nations and throughout history.
The ceremony featured a musical performance by Music Club member Marc Gulgulian, who played Charles Aznavour’s poignant piece “Ils sont tombés” (They Fell)—a tribute to lives lost without reason—followed by a prayer led by campus minister Rev. Wilbert Van Saane.
In his address, University President Rev. Dr. Paul Haidostian delivered a powerful reflection on memory, justice, and moral responsibility. “Memory is one of the key instruments of working for justice,” he stated. “But then, reversal of history is a denial mechanism on behalf of the perpetrator. Remembering and demanding justice are not political cards on the table of nations, but a natural response to genocide.”
Emphasizing the moral and spiritual dimensions of remembrance, President Haidostian added, “In remembering the martyrs, we affirm the sacred dignity of every human life, as the cry of the innocent and their descendants is never lost before God.”
He further underscored the continued relevance of April 24: “April 24 is not only a date; it is a call to conscience. The same conscience today is called upon to mourn the new forms of denial of the Armenian Genocide and the new forms and shapes of all sorts of genocides in our region.”
Highlighting the university’s academic mission, President Haidostian concluded, “This is an academic institution; therefore, a major moral calling we uphold is to teach our community to live for peace and justice, and to name crimes with their names, no matter who the criminal, when the crime was committed, and regardless of its scale.”
Through this commemoration, Haigazian University once again stood not only in mourning, but in witness—upholding truth, advocating justice, and nurturing a legacy of remembrance for future generations.
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Mira Yardemian
Public Relations Director
