Posted on 03/03/2015 8:37:55 AM PST by marshmallow
Historian Michael Hesemann Says There is Proof Pope Benedict XV Tried to Stop Armenian Genocide
Just before the world commemorates the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, well-known German historian Michael Hesemann announced the discovery of 2000 pages of hitherto unpublished documents on, what he calls “the greatest persecution of Christians in history” in the Vatican Secret Archives.
In this in-depth analysis with ZENIT, the historian discusses his findings, what’s often not realized about the Armenian genocide, and its victims, items which he discusses in his new book.
He also speaks about the Holy Father’s recent visit to Turkey, why he didn’t speak on the subject, and what people should realize about the tragedy which happened then, and what’s happening now.
Part II of the interview will be published Tuesday, March 3.
***
ZENIT: What compelled you to start going through the documents? What did you feel you had uncovered?
Hesemann: Actually, I was fascinated by the Armenian genocide after reading a letter written by the Cologne Archbishop—and I am from the Archdiocese of Cologne--, Cardinal von Hartmann, who in 1913 wrote a letter to the German Chancellor of the Reich requesting German support to prevent a new Armenian Genocide after the withdrawal of the Russian troops from Northeastern Turkey. And his words were very impressive. He confirmed the Armenian genocide of 1915/1916 and compared it with the early persecutions of Christians like the Diocletian persecution of early 4th century.
He said because Germany was such a close ally to Turkey it would also cause shame on the German name for future generations if it wouldn’t do anything to stop it. I immediately realized how right he was and that he was a voice of justice in the middle of this horrible World War I. And then I asked myself: What did.....
(Excerpt) Read more at zenit.org ...
Interesting
The story of Armenian genocide is typically cast as an ethnic issue.
Illuminating as well, because all the Armenians I know are Christians.
The “Armenian genocide” also included the murdering of a million plus Greek Orthodox in the anciently Greek areas of western Turkey that the Ottoman’s controlled.
It was a genocide of CHRISTIANS that lived in Turkey
Well ... isn't that special?
Something to keep in mind, next time the demonicrats start wailing for more "common sense gun control". If they want to disarm you, it's because they intend to do something bad to you.
Mohammedans are up to the same bloody slaughter today. ISIS == mohammedans == murderers.
And sadly was denied for many years that it even happened.
While in no way wishing to denigrate the Armenian Genocide, the worst persecution of Christians ever recorded was certainly that under the Communists. It reached its peak under Stalin. The number of New Martyrs of the Communist persecution will never be known with any exactitude, but it is undoubtedly in the many millions. Some have suggested it could be as many as ten million, though that number seems high to me. The persecutions began shortly after the Revolution and continued in waves until the fall of the USSR. All churches suffered but a special hatred was reserved for the Orthodox Church which was the confession of all but a small percentage of Russians and was associated by the Bolshevicks with the Monarchy. It was nearly exterminated.
In 1914 in Russia, there were 55,173 Russian Orthodox churches and 29,593 chapels, 112,629 priests and deacons, 550 monasteries and 475 convents with a total of 95,259 monks and nuns. By 1939, there only a few hundred clergy still living in the entire country. Less than fifty(!) churches were still open and there was only one monastery allowed to function. Every single bishop who attended the Great Synod of 1917 was either murdered outright or died in prison or a concentration camp. There are no reliable figures for the number of laymen and women who ended up in mass graves but it is probably safe to say the total exceeds the number of Jews murdered by the Nazis. And of course those are just the ones murdered outright. The number who spent time, or often the rest of their lives, in slave labor camps is certainly well over ten million.
Here on FR it has become fashionable to demonize Russia, and some of that criticism is more than fair. But a little perspective is also in order. There is no other country on the face of the Earth whose soil has been so drenched with the blood of martyrs.
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