New Saints

The present volume introduces the development of Canonization in the Armenian Church Tradition and professes strongly to canonize the Armenian Martyrs on the eve of the 100th Anniversary of 1915 Genocide Commemoration. How will this joint canonization be conveyed with regards to the massive number of genocide victims? Will it be done through individualization or by the following decree: "All those who died for their Christian faith." It is important for the Armenian Church to take the latter approach, for it is only God who knows, as He is the one who sanctifies either a person or a collective, for their sacrifice and testimony of faith. Of course, it would have been better if our Church had, many years ago, taken the necessary steps of enlightening our people as to why we needed to sanctify our martyrs, why their canonization is valuable to us now and to future generations as well. Let this booklet be a small offering in fulfilling what this prospect essentially lacks.