A prayer service at St Yeghiche Church (13b Cranley Gardens, London, SW7 3BB) on 9 November at 4 pm, dedicated to the release of Armenian hostages held in Baku prisons. This event forms part of a worldwide initiative led by the Armenian Church to unite us in prayer and solidarity. Globally, on 10 November, similar services will take place at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and in Armenian cathedrals across Armenia and the diaspora, including a special gathering at Christ Church Cathedral in Dublin (Christchurch Place, Dublin 8, Ireland) at 5 pm.
This initiative is part of a broader campaign led by Luis Moreno Ocampo, the first prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, advocating for the release of Armenian hostages ahead of COP29. By joining in prayer, we seek both divine blessing and increased awareness among our communities and the international community at large. Azerbaijan, a resource-rich nation with a deeply troubling human rights record, has inflicted grave harm upon the people of Artsakh, and now, through COP29, aims to avoid accountability for these actions. Through our collective presence, we affirm that such injustices must not go unnoticed.
We invite you, your family, and friends to join us. Diplomats, religious leaders, human rights advocates, and individuals committed to peace and justice will gather with us, and your attendance will lend strength to our message.
For further updates, please follow Luis Moreno Ocampo on Twitter and @ar_churchuk. Should you need additional information, feel free to reach out to us at ku.gro.hcruhcnainemra@ofni.
Please share this message with anyone who may wish to join us in prayer and solidarity. Together, let us “speak up for humanity” and “stand for justice,” using #COP29, #StopGreenwashGenocide, and #FreeArmenianHostages.