WCC NEWS: Prayers for Armenia at Geneva’s St Pierre Cathedral draws feelings of unity

Many gathered at Geneva’s St Pierre Cathedral to pray for themselves and all who suffer from violence and injustice during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, including the people of Armenia and Artsakh. Book launch of the "Preserving Armenian Heritage and Advancing Justice and Peace" publication on 21 January 2026 in St Pierre Cathedral, Geneva. Photo: Peter Kenny/WCC 22 January 2026 The prayers on 21 January were followed by a conference to launch a book, Freedom of Religion and Preservation of Armenian Religious, Cultural, and Historical Heritage in Artsakh/Nagorno-Karabakh. “For over a century, Christians have gathered across confessional boundaries to pray that the divided body of Christ may be healed,” said World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay at the service. He said that since 1968, the Week of Prayer has been prepared jointly by the WCC and the Roman Catholic Church. “This cooperation is itself a sign of hope—a reminder that prayer can open doors where dialogue alone sometimes cannot. And with all communities whose dignity is threatened.” The scripture reading was from the Book of Ephesians 4:1-13, “Therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace…” Reformation Museum  The conference was held in the International Museum of the Reformation. Pillay said: “This book is not merely a record of a conference. It is a testimony—of concern, of responsibility, and of shared commitment. It carries voices that were brought together in Bern in May 2025 at a moment of deep urgency for the protection of Armenian religious and cultural heritage in Artsakh and the wider region.” He noted, “The WCC does not act as a political authority, nor as a technical agency. Our role is to be a convener, a witness, and a moral companion. We create space for listening and truth-telling. We accompany churches and communities in times of suffering.” Among the speakers were, in additional to WCC general secretary Pillay; Gabriel De Montmollin, director of the Reformation Museum; Rev. Fr Archimandrite Garegin Hambardzumyan from the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin; Rev. Dr Martin Hirzel, director of external relations for the Protestant Church in Switzerland; Prof. Dr Valentina Calzolari, professor of Armenian Studies, head of the Department of Mediterranean, Slavic, and Oriental Studies, University of Geneva, Switzerland; and Prof. Dr Hans-Lukas Kieser, titular professor emeritus, honourary associate professor, Universities of Newcastle (Australia) and Zurich. The editors of the book: Prof. Dr Ani Ghazaryan-Drissi, professor of Ecumenical Theology and program executive at the WCC for Ecumenical Theological Education; Rev. Dr Martin Hirzel, director of external relations for the Protestant Church in Switzerland; and Carla Khijoyan, WCC programme executive for Peacebuilding in the Middle East. The publication was made possible through a partnership with donors and the Protestant Church in Switzerland. “Don’t lose hope” Rev. Fr Archimandrite Garegin Hambardzumyan said ethnic cleansing had taken place after events in September 2023. But he said, “One should not lose hope even under difficult circumstances.” “This set a precedent for others in today’s world, rising autocracy and disregard for international rules and laws,” said Hambardzumyan. “The challenge for Armenia today is to find a future in an authoritarian, anti-democratic environment.” Armenia has a more convincing record of democracy than other countries in the region, said Hambardzumyan. “As a small and vulnerable state, it needs vigilant solidarity,” he noted. De Montmollin told those gathered that the Protestant Museum is there to serve its believers and the broader Christian heritage, of which Armenia is a central component. Hirzel, who was representing Rev. Rita Famos, the head of his church, said, “For us in the Protestant Church in Switzerland, it is a matter of ecclesial responsibility to stand up for our sisters and brothers in Armenia and Artsakh. “For more than 130 years, Armenians have been living in Switzerland, since the mid-19th century, especially here in the region of Geneva.” The Swiss church has supported the Armenian people since then and “welcomes” the peace initiatives that have taken place around Armenia since 2023. Ghazaryan-Drissi said the publication is important to both churches and the overall “global community and our shared ethical responsibilities.” Week of Prayer for Christian Unity Publication: Freedom of Religion and the Preservation of Armenian Religious, Cultural, and Historical Heritage in Artsakh/Nagorno-Karabakh Photo gallery Book launch of the "Preserving Armenian Heritage and Advancing Justice and Peace" publication on 21 January 2026 in St Pierre Cathedral, Geneva. Photo: Peter Kenny/WCC See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 356 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay from the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa. Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches Chemin du Pommier 42 Kyoto Building Le Grand-Saconnex CH-1218 Switzerland

WCC News: As world prays for Armenia, WCC urges "justice and peace are closely interconnected”

Prayers for Armenia rang worldwide on 10 November—from London to Paris; Berlin to Washington, DC; Moscow to Australia—and in Geneva, the World Council of Churches (WCC) called for the unconditional release of 23 Armenian war hostages, as well as defenders of human rights and journalists detained in Azeri jails. WCC general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay speaks during the prayer service in the St Pierre Cathedral, Geneva. Photo: Ivars Kupcis/WCC 11 November 2024 The special day of prayer occurred the day before the start of COP29, which is taking place from 11-22 November in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan.   WCC general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay spoke in the St Pierre Cathedral during a service in the presence of the Armenian ambassador H. E. Andranik Hovhannaissyan.  "We urge all faith communities, international bodies, and people of goodwill to join us in prayer while strengthening efforts to call for the immediate and unconditional release of all Armenian prisoners of war still detained in Baku, Azerbaijan," said Pillay.  "We remind the international community, preparing to meet in Baku COP29, that justice and peace are closely interconnected and cannot be separated. We cannot call for climate justice without condemning violations of human rights.”  Needs prayers  The global day of prayer was called for by H.H. Catholicos Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, who urged prayers for hostages, and the pursuit of truth and justice.  Archbishop Nathan Hovhannisyan, the director of the External Relations and Protocol Department from the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, was present from Armenia at Sunday's prayer in St Pierre Cathedral.   Bishop Dr Heinrich Bedford-Strohm, moderator of the WCC central committee, said in a video message at the service that "Armenia needs our prayers."  He said, "Christian faith has accompanied the Armenian people since the beginnings of the Armenian Apostolic Church in (the year) 301 CE. It has given comfort to Armenians in difficult times, "and in the annals of "Armenian history as the genocide in 1915-1916. There's so much strength in the hearts and souls of the Armenian people."  He said Armenia is going through a difficult time again "after the military aggression by Azerbaijan in Artsakh," as 150,000 people have been expelled from their homes there and found refuge in Armenian houses.  "The future is unclear. But I am convinced God will accompany the people of Armenia, and we can join God in accompanying them through our prayers."  During the prayer service Madame Varduhi Khachatryan performed several traditional hymns in Armenian. Photo: Ivars Kupcis/WCC The WCC said that the military aggression against the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh/Artsakh in September-October 2020, followed by the ten-month-long total blockade of the Lachin corridor and the forced displacement of around 120,000 Armenians from their ancestral lands in September 2023, remains a critical concern.  Pillay said he was in Armenia when the attack on Nagorno-Karabakh/Artsakh took place in September-October 2020. He noted the WCC stands in support and solidarity with Armenia and with the plight of prisoners of war and hostages.  "The right to freedom is non-negotiable. We join together as one voice to call for an end to the unjust captivity. May their return be swift, and may they find healing restoration among their loved ones. We pray for the families who wait in anguish and hope for their union and for every heart bound by the fear and servitude that separation brings," said Pillay at the start of the service.  Hope and faith  "We are reminded of hope and faith, and that faith inspires the Armenian people's endurance in the face of adversity,” said Pillay. “It is a testament to the strength that faith brings a strength root in God's eternal life, that churches and traditions are treasures that bear witness to this resilience, and we stand in solidarity to ensure that they remain secure."  Pillay said that is why the WCC will be hosting next year a special conference looking at how to preserve the identity of Armenians and also other parts of the world "where Christian identity is affected and even destroyed.”  The WCC general secretary said, "Today, as we pray, we also appeal to the leaders and diplomats gathered at COP29 to add to compassion, justice, and conviction."  He called for a moment showing moral character and a testament to shared human identity, "honouring the rights of all people to live free from fear, to remain rooted in their lands and to build lives of dignity.”  The prayer service in Geneva organized by the WCC in collaboration with the Armenian community under the leadership of Rev. Fr Goosan Aljanian and Rev. Sandrine Landeau at the St Pierre Cathedral. Madame Varduhi Khachatryan performed three hymns: Havun, havun; Der Voghormya and Christos I mech mer haydnetsav.    Recording of the Prayer service for Armenia Photo gallery from the Prayer service for Armenia Message of His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians Message and prayer by Bishop Dr. Heinrich Bedford-Strohm Final blessing by Very Rev. Fr Goossan Aljanian, head of the diocese of Switzerland of the Armenian Apostolic Church,  Archbishop Nathan Hovhannisyan, the director of the External Relations and Protocol Department from the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay, general secretary of the World Council of Churches and Rev Sandrine Landeau, St Pierre Cathedral Geneva. Photo: Ivars Kupcis/WCC See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 352 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay from the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa. Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches Chemin du Pommier 42 Kyoto Building Le Grand-Saconnex CH-1218 Switzerland