Armenia5 Yerevan (Armenian Genocide memorial)

1. ARMENIA 5 Yerevan

2. Yerevan is the capital and largest city of Armenia and one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities. Situated along the Hrazdan River, Yerevan is the administrative, cultural, and industrial center of the country. It has been the capital since 1918, the thirteenth in the history of Armenia, and the seventh located in or around the Ararat plain. Yerevan was named the 2012 World Book Capital by UNESCO. Yerevan is an associate member of Eurocities. As of 2011, the population of Yerevan was 1,060,138, making up to 35.1% of the total population of Armenia

3. The Armenian Genocide memorial complex is Armenia's official memorial dedicated to the victims of the Armenian Genocide, built in 1967 on the hill of Tsitsernakaberd in Yerevan. Every year on April 24—the Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day—thousands of Armenians gather at the memorial to commemorate the victims of the genocide. Over the years, a wide range of politicians, artists, musician, athletes, religious figures have visited the memorial. The Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute was opened in 1995. The memorial sits on one of three hills along the Hrazdan River that carry the name Tsitsernakaberd (literally "swallow's fortress"), and was the site of what was once an Iron Age fortress. The construction of the monument began in 1966, during Soviet times, in response to the 1965 Yerevan demonstrations during which one hundred thousand people demonstrated in Yerevan for 24 hours to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Genocide.

4. Tsitsernakaberd Armenian Genocide memorial Armenian students walking towards Genocide Museum

5. The memorial is designed by architects Arthur Tarkhanyan, Sashur Kalashyan and artist Hovhannes Khachatryan. It was completed in November 1967

6. 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide

7. The 44-meter stele symbolizes the national rebirth of Armenians.

14. Twelve slabs are positioned in a circle, representing the 12 lost provinces in present day Turkey

18. In the center of the circle, at a depth of 1.5 meters, there is an eternal flame dedicated to the 1.5 million people killed during the Armenian Genocide

19. The eternal flame and the Armenian eternity sign, an ancient Armenian national symbol and a symbol of the national identity of the Armenian people, one of the most common symbols in Armenian architecture, carved on khachkars and on walls of churches

20. At the dedicated commemoration day of 24 April, the place gets flooded with flowers as thousands and thousands of Armenian pilgrims congregate at this memorial

25. Mother Arising Out of the Ashes by Rostam Avetisyan

26. The Armenian Genocide memorial at the Armenian Seminary in Bikfaya, Lebanon. (built in 1965) Mother Arising Out of the Ashes by Rostam Avetisyan

27. The Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute opened its doors in 1995 on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the genocide

28. The Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute Complex

29. To honour those institutions and representatives of states or organizations who've made official statements in recognition of the Armenian genocide, there is a small arboretum just outside the museum, in an area just beyond the exit leading from the museum to the monuments outside. Here a memorial tree is planted for each of these representatives/organizations and a small metal plaque gives the relevant names in Armenian as well as the language of the country concerned.

30. Along the park at the memorial there is a 100 meter wall with the names of towns and villages where massacres and deportations are known to have taken place.

31. Mount Ararat viewed from the Armenian Genocide Museum

32. After the country paid their respects and laid flowers at Tsitsernakaberd, it was our turn to recycle the flower petals which would later be used to make paper. Soon after, volunteers visited the Armenian Genocide Museum. AVC volunteers and Birthright Armenia participants helping to recycle flowers from Tsitsernakaberd with Sun Child.

34. Flower recycling at Tsitsernakaber

37. On April 26th, AVC volunteers are given the special and moving opportunity to take part in a flower recycling project at the Armenian Genocide Monument, Tsitsernakaberd

38. Recycled flowers are used to make paper, cards, and invitations that the Genocide Museum uses

40. On April 24, 1915 hundreds Armenian Intellectuals: poets, musicians, publicists, editors, lawyers, doctors, deputies, were arrested in Constantinople under warrants issued by the Turkish authorities. They were all sent into exile and were horrifically slaughtered

41. The recycling project, organized by the Fund for the Protection of Wildlife and Cultural Assets, gives new life to all of the flowers that were left in memory of the victims of the genocide

45. A mourning procession of hundred thousands Armenians, which includes local Armenians as well as Diasporans, begins in a silent march that moves to the Armenian Genocide Memorial every year on April 24. As each mourner brings flowers to place around the eternal fire, a sea of flowers can be seen encircling the area creating a solemn visual impact

46. Armenian Genocide Memorial Khachkar in Pitesti, Romania

48. Sports and concert complex “Amalir” The huge multi-functional building was opened in 1983 on the hill Tsitsernakaberd

49. Sports and concert complex “Amalir”

50. Sports and concert complex “Amalir”