MELBOURNE: The Anglican Diocese of Melbourne, in partnership with St Mary’s Armenian Apostolic Church of Melbourne, will host a special Evensong Service on Sunday, 6 April 2025 to mark the 110th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, reported the Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC-AU).
Following the Ecumenical service, the Armenian National Committee of Australia’s Edith Glanville Humanitarian Award will be presented to the Anglican Archbishop of Melbourne, honouring the Church’s exemplary history and ongoing contributions to the advancement and protection of human rights for all peoples.
The Evensong Service and Award Presentation will be held on Sunday, 6 April 2025, starting at 4 pm in the heart of Melbourne’s CBD at St Paul’s Cathedral (Flinders St, Melbourne VIC 3000).
The Armenian National Committee of Australia’s Edith Glanville Humanitarian Award, which will be presented for the first time, is named in honour of Mrs Edith Glanville JP, whose contributions to the Armenian Relief Fund of Australia helped countless Armenian Genocide survivors. The award will be awarded annually to an Australian individual or group who has made exceptional contributions to furthering the rights of disadvantaged, oppressed and ostracized peoples, either on a local, national or global scale.
The Very Reverend Dr Andreas Loewe, Dean of Melbourne St Paul's Cathedral said, “Our Ecumenical Service of Evening Prayer is an important opportunity to stand with our Armenian, Assyrian and Greek sisters and brothers in remembrance, solidarity and hope. As we mark the anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, we honour the lives lost, give thanks for the resilience of the Armenian people, and celebrate the long-standing friendship between the Anglican Diocese of Melbourne and the Armenian Church."
“I give thanks for this opportunity to pray together for healing, reconciliation and peace, and to renew our shared commitment to justice and human dignity for all people, as beloved children of God,” he added.
Armenian National Committee of Australia - Melbourne Branch Member Robert Vardapetyan said, “The award seeks to honour Ms. Glanville’s legacy by promoting upstanders in Australia and champions of human rights - those who have and continue to fearlessly stand with oppressed, marginalised and persecuted peoples, our unsung Australian heroes.”
“The Award recognises individuals who have dedicated themselves to the pursuit of justice, amplifying the voices of those who have been silenced and working tirelessly to create meaningful change,” Vardapetyan added.
By celebrating Australian humanitarians, the Armenian National Committee of Australia seeks to reaffirm the importance of moral courage and action in the face of injustice, ensuring the spirit of Edith Glanville’s humanitarian legacy to save Armenians, inspires generations to come.
Both the Evensong Service and the Award Presentation taking place at St Paul’s Cathedral are open to all members of Victoria’s Armenian-Australian community.
