What Armenian Genocide?
Few people even know where Armenia is, unless perhaps they are mad Kim Kardashian junkies.
When Chad and I heard about the Armenian Cultural Association’s production Journey of Faith, which is centred around the Armenian Genocide and its commemoration, we both looked at each other with puzzled expressions. What Armenian Genocide?
For those who are unfamiliar with the country, the Republic of Armenia is a small mountainous region landlocked with Turkey to the west and Georgia to the north in southeastern Europe. Due to this prized trade gateway to the Middle East and Asia, Armenia was ruled by many empires, but there is one empire who have to this day not left the Armenian’s minds.
It was to Chad and I’s immense devastation to learn that the Ottoman Empire and various regimes of Turkey between 1894-1923, continually committed crimes of genocidal acts against the Armenian people.
Adelaide born Jon Cocks who wrote and directed Journey of Faith acquired much of his knowledge and insight from his Armenian-born wife Lilit. After we were warmly greeted by the Armenian Cultural Association at the Holden Street Theatre last night, Chad and I too gained some frightful insight.
Jon was the first to step onto the stage dressed as a Reverend suggesting that one cannot always live in anger, fear and grief. It was Adelaide based Reverend James Edwin Cresswell who was appointed the national secretary of the “Armenian Relief Fund”. The fund helped orphaned Armenian children who had lost their homes and families and was operating in every state by the end of 1922. Australia’s involvement in the Armenian Genocide had initially become apparent when our diggers seen deportation of the Armenians of the Ottoman Empire. While Aussie troops were stepping onto the shores of Gallipolli, a massive slaughter was also taking place deep within the Empire. Australia’s involvement in the Armenian Genocide is astonishingly unknown.
The moving play was chiefly set at the war memorial on North Terrace, Adelaide, staging a personal journey of faith by Anoush, an Armenian-born widow and Mehmet, an elderly Turkish tramp and ex-Ottoman Empire soldier. It was April 24, 1965, the 50th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Their lives cross paths at the memorial where Anoush is praying for internal peace after laying a wreath for her husband and on behalf of her massacred family and the exterminated Armenian people. Mehmet on the other hand, is also in search for inner peace, wanting to escape recurring distressing memories of what he did under orders of the great Kemal.
What was truly enlightening, were the performers of the Armenian dance troupe. The heritage dancing cast a calming spell over the audience in between scenes emphasising the destruction of Armenian people through genocide.
April 24 marks the Centenary of the Armenian Genocide, in which 1.5 million Armenians were slaughtered by the Ottoman Turks. To this day, the Republic of Turkey have still not recognised or condemned the Armenian Genocide committed by the Ottoman Empire.
For more information about the Armenian Cultural Association visit: http://www.armeniasa.com.