YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 23, ARMENPRESS: Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin has issued a statement condemning the explosion of the Armenian St. Nahatakats/Martyrs Church in Deir ez-Zor. As the Mother See informed Armenpress, the statement specifically reads:

“Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin strongly condemns the explosion of the Armenian St. Nahatakats/Martyrs Church, which appeared to be an Armenian sanctuary, by terrorist groups.  The destruction of the church, which kept the relics of the Armenian Genocide victims, is a disrespectful step towards Armenian people and their holy martyrs.

What happened is an unconcealed way to hit the fair claims of Armenian people at the threshold of the Armenian Genocide centenary. What happened is an inhuman barbarism and cannot be justified by any religion or ideology that are based on humanitarian values.

We urge our people to strengthen their pledge of respect towards our martyrs and get rid of all the conspiracies of the evildoers. We call on the international community to condemn the mentioned vandalism to prevent the possible repetition of similar crimes.”