Trip to Armenia

One hundred years ago, on 24 April 1915 to be precise, 235 members of the Armenian upper class were arrested in what was then Constantinople (now Istanbul). This was the prelude to what most historians call the first genocide of the 20th century. In the months that followed, an estimated 1.5 million of the 2 million Armenians were expelled, burned, murdered, chased into the desert, kidnapped, forced to marry....

Three years ago, my dear friend Rosemarie Stresemann felt that God wanted her to look into the German part of it. She read and researched and realised (roughly simplified by me):

• 1878 Germany pledged to protect the Armenians (together with Russia and England)
• 1898 the emperor declares himself a friend of all Muslims.
• 1914 the German Empire and the Ottoman Empire concluded a secret military agreement. 800 German officers are active in the Turkish army. Some are actively involved in the massacres of Armenians.
• 1915 When the Armenian genocide begins, the Chancellor and other political leaders are informed and asked to use their influence on Turkey to protect the Armenians. Those responsible write back clearly that the partnership with Turkey is more important to them than the fate of the Armenians.
• 1918 Germany made it possible for the main perpetrators to flee to Berlin.

It is quite obvious that Germany is „partly responsible, if not partly to blame“ for the Armenian genocide, as Federal President Gauck put it in a speech on 23 April 2015.

At the end of March, an ecumenical repentance service was held in Berlin's Memorial Church on the topic of „Germany's complicity in the Armenian genocide“. The guilt was clearly recognised. The Germany's admission of guilt is also available on YouTube.

Then we asked God and the Armenians present for forgiveness. It was a moving moment for me when the Armenian bishop said: „Now we can pray the Lord's Prayer together!“ Where guilt is not recognised, it remains between people. If it is confessed, then the path to each other is clear.

Since the service of repentance, things also began to move politically. Out of consideration for Turkey, which to this day plays down and does not recognise the genocide, the German government was very hesitant to recognise the genocide. On 23 April, Federal President Gauck found clear words, and on 24 April 2015, the Bundestag recognised the genocide. For the victims, the recognition of a co-participant is an important step towards healing. And I suspect that our repentance and prayers have helped to soften hearts.

Rosemarie was then also invited to Armenia to speak at a church service there to mark the 100th anniversary of the genocide. I travelled along to support her as a friend. It was a moving four days. Only around half a million Armenians survived the genocide - almost everyone has tragic stories to tell:

• My grandfather was able to escape with his brother. But they got lost on the run and never found each other again. He saw his pregnant sister being murdered.
• Twenty-seven people from my family were murdered in one day. My grandfather was the only survivor. He fled to Aleppo.
• My family fled to the French-administered part of Syria. When France ceded this region to Turkey, we had to flee again.
• My grandparents on both sides of the family were all murdered.

It can simply tear your heart out. And marvel at the courage of faith of the Armenians. A Turkish officer took pity on a 12-year-old boy and offered to spare him if he would convert to Islam. The boy's reply: „I will live and die for Christ!“

People have paid a price for not denying their faith and their origins... the Armenians say that this is a seed that has fallen into the earth and will one day bear much fruit.

At the repentance service in Armenia, there was a time when we worshipped Jesus. Young Armenians stood on the stage and sang from the heart - movingly and deeply. Suddenly it was as if a window to heaven opened. In my mind's eye, I saw all these Armenian grandmothers looking at the music team and saying: „Look, that's my granddaughter“ „And this one is mine!“ „And look, she's worshipping Jesus - my sacrifice was worth it!“ And Jesus, who was standing behind them, also said „My sacrifice was worth it!“

Until then, I had always seen Armenia as a country of victims. Looking inward at the joy and pride of the grandmothers changed my perspective. I felt that Jesus was telling me:

„Armenia is the land of happy grandmothers!“