Each year on April 24th, Armenians worldwide commemorate those who perished in the Armenian Genocide. Bay Area Armenians gather at the Mt. Davidson Cross, which is lit not only to remember the victims, but also to symbolize the resolve of the Armenian-American community to win official recognition of the genocide.

Archpriest Fr. Sarkis Petoyan, Pastor of St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Church of Pasadena who travelled to San Francisco with the students of Hovsepian School, The Rev. Fr. Hovel Ohanyan, Pastor of St. Vartan Armenian Church of Oakland, the Rev. Fr. Mesrop Ash, Pastor of St. John Armenian Church joined Bay Area Armenian clergy, youth and public officials to commemorate the 103rd Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide at the Mount Davidson Cross.

This year’s commemorative event included a collective prayer service, remarks by the organizing committee and public officials as well as a wreath placing ceremony at the cross and performances by KZV Armenian School students.

The Mount Davidson Cross serves as a memorial to the 1.5 million Armenians who perished during the 1915-1923 Armenian Genocide perpetrated by the Turkish Ottoman Empire. Under cover of World War I, the Young Turk government embarked on the systematic extermination of its Armenian citizens, resulting in the elimination of the Armenian people from its ancient homeland of several millennia.