Atlanta Community Commemorates the 110th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide
Dignitaries in attendance included the Honorary Consuls of Lebanon and Greece, members of the clergy, including Fr. Panayiotis Papageorgiou, scholars, and Lebanese, Armenian, and Greek community leaders. The commemoration served a dual purpose: to honor the memory of the 1.5 million Armenians who perished in the genocide of 1915, and to foster inclusive, intercommunal dialogue that encouraged attendees to reflect on the historical trauma, share personal testimonies, and explore pathways toward healing and justice.
The program featured a diverse array of cultural and educational presentations, including heartfelt testimonies from Armenian and Greek community members, traditional Armenian music, Greek dances, artistic performances, and heritage exhibitions. These cultural elements served not only to preserve cultural identity but also to highlight the enduring resilience of the Armenian people while drawing connections to the broader experience of communities impacted by genocide.
Dr. Charity Butcher, Director of the School of Conflict Management, Peacebuilding, and Development at Kennesaw State University delivered a compelling keynote address emphasizing the importance of remembrance as a step toward healing intergenerational trauma and fostering self-healing and reconciliation. Her speech focused on the future, and how collective resilience can aid in collective healing. The event also featured a panel discussion with experts in the field, including Dr. Maia Hallward, Dr. Isaac Andakian, Mr. Harut Sassounian of the California Courier, and Mr. Robert Avedisyan of the Armenian Assembly of America. Mrs. Mary Trachian-Bradley moderated the panel discussion. The panel addressed pressing topics such as historical recognition and denial, legal avenues for justice, advocacy efforts in the U.S. government, the psychological and cultural impact of the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) war on Armenians, and strategies for genocide prevention.
This commemoration not only honored a painful chapter in history, but also emphasized the critical importance of education, empathy, and sustained dialogue. It reaffirmed a shared commitment to preventing future atrocities and to building a more just and peaceful world.
