“Peace in Syria requires the involvement of each one of us”

“We must start by making peace where we are”, Harutiun Selimian, president of the Evangelical Armenian community in Syria told French newspaper La Croix.

Evangelical Focus

La Croix, Evangelical Focus · ALEPPO · 23 SEPTEMBER 2016 · 18:10 CET

Harutiun Selimian, president of the Evangelical Armenian community in Syria / La Croix,
Harutiun Selimian, president of the Evangelical Armenian community in Syria / La Croix

In an interview with the French newspaper La Croix, Harutiun Selimian, president of the Evangelical Armenian community in Syria, states that the educational work in schools should become an instrument of peace.

"As inhabitants of Aleppo, as a pastor and as president of the Evangelical Armenian community in Syria, I ask for the end of the bloodshed, but I feel deeply that this requires the involment of each one of us”, he says.

 

“WE MUST START WHERE WE LIVE”

“We received a call from God to become an instrument of peace. We must start by making peace where we are, where we live”, Selimian adds. The armenian pastor believes that “this means making peace with God, peace with ourselves, peace with our enemies.”

Selimian is optimistic about this: “Of course, it will take much time. It's a huge educational work to be carried in our schools. But it is possible.”

 

ALEPPO, ONE CENTURY LATER

It has been a century since Armenians arrived in Aleppo, after the genocide in Turkey. “Today, we make calls to save Aleppo. At that time, it was Aleppo who saved others”, pastor Selimian explains.

“Genocide survivors doubted the fact of still being human. The beginnings were very humble. But I am very moved when I think of orphans who then wanted to build families. If they were able to do, we can do it too”, he concludes.

Published in: Evangelical Focus - life & tech - “Peace in Syria requires the involvement of each one of us”