Monument en mémoire des victimes du génocide arménien War memorial

Amidst the bustling heart of Paris, a poignant narrative unfolds at the Monument en mémoire des victimes du génocide arménien. This memorial stands not only as a testament to the 1.5 million victims of the 1915 Armenian Genocide but also honors the Armenian fighters and resistance members who sacrificed their lives for France. The monument, a towering figure of the composer Komitas Vardapet, rises upon a two-meter pedestal, his bronze form reaching four meters towards the sky. It’s located near the Armenian Apostolic Church, in a square that often bustles with tourists. The Monument en mémoire des victimes du génocide arménien was a long time coming. The Armenian community in Paris first requested its creation in 1983. Yet, it wasn’t until 2001, when France officially recognized the Armenian Genocide, that the project gained momentum. Construction began in January 2002, culminating in its completion on April 22, 2003, just in time for its inauguration on April 24th. The monument’s design is the work of David Babayan-Yerevantsi. The inscriptions on the monument’s base offer a multilingual tribute. One side, in French, reads, “In homage to Komitas, composer and musicologist, and to the 1,500,000 victims of the Armenian Genocide of 1915 carried out in the Ottoman Empire.” Another side bears the same inscription in Armenian. A third side, also in French, commemorates Komitas’s work in preserving Armenian folk songs: “Until the Genocide of 1915, Rev. Fr. Komitas collected and transcribed the traditional folk songs of the Armenian people; thereby he was able to save an heritage of universal importance.” The final side, again in French, honors the Armenian soldiers: “To the memory of voluntary Armenian fighters and Armenian members of the resistance who died for France.” The Monument en mémoire des victimes du génocide arménien serves as a sobering reminder of a tragic chapter in history. It also celebrates the resilience of the Armenian people and their contributions to both culture and freedom, embodied by the figure of Komitas. As you stand before this memorial, take a moment to reflect on the lives lost and the importance of remembering, lest such atrocities be repeated.