27/04/2025
On the evening of 24 April, a solemn and deeply moving Armenian Vespers service was held at the University Church of St Mary the Virgin in Oxford, marking the 110th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide to commemorate the Holy Martyrs. Armenian Divine service is one of the ancient Christian traditions with specific features and unique choir.
The service began with a welcome address by the Revd Canon Dr William Lamb, Vicar of the University Church, who reflected on the Church’s historic role as a symbol of peace and reconciliation. He highlighted its involvement in significant religious events, including the trials of the Oxford Martyrs during the Reformation. The service was conducted by Bishop Hovakim Manukyan, Primate of the Armenian Church in the United Kingdom and Ireland. In his reflection, he acknowledged the solemn memory of 24 April, while reminding the faithful that, as Christians, “we are people of the Resurrection.”
The event was organized by the University Church and the White Cross Foundation with the active participation of the Armenian community in Oxford.
The Armenian Vespers at Oxford is part of a broader effort to educate, remember, and bring together communities in a spirit of peace and reconciliation. This event also symbolizes Christian unity, spiritual heritage and shared culture from Armenia to the United Kingdom.
