Not even a memorial in Tchambarak
Since early morning, employees of the Tchambarak municipality of Gegharkunik province paid tribute to the 1.5 million victims of the Armenian Genocide with lilies in order to set an example for fellow citizens. However, the lilies were the only ones near the monument because no matter how strange it sounds, those lilies were laid in front of the cross-stone in memory of the victims of the 1988 earthquake.
There is still no cross-stone in memory of the victims of the Armenian Genocide in the city with a population of 20,000.
The only cross-stone memorial of Tchambarak is the small Armenian Apostolic cathedral where many residents participated in a liturgy served by priest, Father Psak on Easter. The priest attached importance to the role of the church in social awareness and that the residents should be satisfied with the number of people.
According to the priest, despite the church's efforts to convince people not to go to cemeteries on Easter, residents don't want to kick the habit and many visit their relatives' tombs anyway.
There were many soldiers at the liturgy. The priest mentioned that one of the soldiers had said he would prepare a cross-stone for the city, but Father Psak can't even find stones for that. The young soldier recently decorated the church door and now plans on painting religious pictures, but there are not enough paints.
Father Psak added that despite the difficulties, he believes that the city will be spiritually reborn soon.
