24.06.2025


On June 24, a solemn ceremony was held at the Armenian Genocide Memorial to mark the 110th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide and the 125th anniversary of the birth of Raphael Lemkin, the originator of the term genocide and a pioneering figure in international law. During the ceremony, soil brought from Lemkin’s grave was placed in the Memorial Wall, and a commemorative plaque bearing his name was unveiled, honoring his profound contribution to the recognition and prevention of genocides.

The event was attended by Marcin Różecki, Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of Poland in Armenia; His Grace Bishop Shaheh Sarkissian, Director of the “Cilicia” Manuscript Library of the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia and a member of the AGMI Board of Trustees; and other dignitaries. The initiative was led by Bishop Sarkissian, who requested Archbishop Anoushavan Danielian, Prelate of the Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America, to collect soil from Lemkin’s grave at Mount Hebron Cemetery in New York. The soil was then transferred to Beirut and brought to Armenia by Hrachya Margaryan, Director of the National Center Development Foundation.

In her opening remarks, Dr. Edita Gzoyan, Director of the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute, stated: “Today, we are not only honoring the legal legacy of Raphael Lemkin but also his moral conviction. He believed that memory without accountability is empty, and that justice begins by naming the truth. Lemkin was not Armenian. He never visited Armenia. Yet the Armenian Genocide left a deep imprint on his soul and became the foundation of his legal thought. He was the one who defined this horrific crime and dedicated his life to ensuring that it would never again go unpunished.”

Following the unveiling ceremony, a public lecture session took place at the AGMI Conference Hall. Presentations were delivered by Dr. Narek Poghosyan, AGMI Researcher (Raphael Lemkin and the Armenian Genocide), and Polish researcher and war correspondent Witold Repetowicz (Raphael Lemkin’s Legacy and Its Relevance in Today’s World).

To conclude the event, Dr. Edita Gzoyan awarded the newly released Raphael Lemkin Commemorative Medal to Dr. Narek Poghosyan and Witold Repetowicz for their significant contributions to the study and promotion of Lemkin’s work and his enduring role in the defense of human rights. A certificate of appreciation was also presented to His Grace Bishop Shaheh Sarkissian in recognition of his initiative to transfer the soil from Raphael Lemkin’s grave to the Armenian Genocide Memorial.