Page 26 - AECA.org.uk ¦ Koinonia 65

From the archives: The Armenian Genocide

STEPHEN STAVROU

IN THE years following the Genocide of Armenians, the AECA was greatly in-
volved in making known the full extent of what took place, not only to Arme-
nian Christians but also to other Christians. It is fascinating to hear these
voices and accounts from the time and shortly afterwards. In what follows be-
low, despite legitimate concerns, some forms of expression strike an uncom-
fortable note today.

Volume 1, Number 1 of the The Christian East was published in March
1920. It contains an article by Fr Fynes-Clinton entitled Review of Four Years
referring to the First World War. Fynes-Clinton begins by speaking of ‘the very
bleak outlook for European civilization and the peace of the world, which are
menaced by the terrible anti-Christian movement of Bolshevism and the threat
of Islam.’ In a paragraph entitled The Christians of Turkey, Fynes-Clinton de-
scribes the e?orts of the Association in assisting with the ‘Public Committee
for the Redemption of the Church of Santa Sophie (i.e. returning it to Chris-
tian worship). He describes this as ‘an act of justice necessary to the future
peace of the world, and as a symbol of the liberation and resurrection to new
life of our Christian brethren lying under the barbarous and bloody despotism
of the Turk.’ In particular he mentions that ‘many services of intercession have
been held and appeals issues for these [Christians] and for the Armenians [in
particular].’

The second edition of The Christian East goes into much more detail as it
includes in its Reviews section a commentary on Some books on Armenia. It lists
a number of books on the ‘history of that a?icted race’, and then reminds
readers of recent events: ‘… above all, no one who is concerned to realize the
facts of the massacre can omit to read what is one of the most dreadful records
ever set before the Government of the English nation, the Blue book “miscel-
laneous, No.31 (1916)m on the Treatment of Armenians in the Ottoman Em-
pire, 1915-16 …”.’ It goes on to treat the subject at some length:

‘A more heartrending record of agonies was never penned than
this dreadful Government Report. Armenian Bishops have been
hanged, apparently for no other crime than that of being Arme-
nian and Christian. And what makes it yet more terrible is that
these massacres have reached a magnitude unprecedented in the

24