A new seven-volume set of documents from Vatican archives on the Armenian Genocide is presented in Rome (Source: Foreign Ministry of Armenia)

ROME (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia)—The Pontifical Oriental Institute of Santa Maria Maggiore, the premier center for the study of Eastern Christianity in Rome, held a special presentation event for a unique seven-volume set of books on the Armenian Genocide by Father Georges-Henri Ruyssen on November 21. The event was organized by the Embassy of Armenia in the Holy See.

Rector of the Pontifical Oriental Institute David Nazar, founder of the Community of Sant’Egidio Andrea Riccardi, president of the Community of Sant’Egidio Marco Impagliazzo, clergymen of the Armenian Apostolic and Catholic churches, political representatives, and members of Armenian community in Italy were among the participants of the event.

The publication presents all the documents on the Armenian Genocide from the period of the Hamidian massacres till the post-Genocide years of Kemalist rule preserved in the Vatican closed archives, and provides a full picture of all the stages of the Genocide, from planning to implementation.

During his speech, Ambassador of Armenia to the Holy See Mikael Minasyan stressed the fact that the seven-volume set is a significant achievement for genocide studies and contributes to the history of both the Armenian people and the Turkish people as well.  “The work by Father Ruyssen helps us to trace back the facts. It helps us to read the past thus learning the lessons for the future,” Minasyan said.

At the event, Minasyan presented Father Georges-Henri Ruyssen the Order of Honor awarded by the President of Armenia for his contribution to Armenian Studies and for his dissemination of spiritual values.