Antelias, Lebanon - His Holiness Aram I, who has embarked on a pilgrimage to Der-Zor on the occasion of the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, placed a newly produced version of the "Partsrapert" Gospel in the Genocide museum in Der-Zor.

His Holiness had taken the gospel with him to Der-Zor from Antelias.

"One of the masterpieces of Cilician miniature, this Gospel is a silent witness which has escaped the Turkish sword and passed through the Der-Zor desert. Those who saved this miniature from destruction before they saved their lives, no longer exist today. But the remains of thousands of our victims, whom the Gospel accompanied through this desert, rest here," His Holiness said.

As a preparation for next day's events, hesgoum was held in the evening, when many pilgrims visited the chapel and prayed for the victims of the Armenian Genocide.

His Holiness praised the Armenians' will for resurrection and explained the symbolic significance of the chapel, which has become a pilgrimage site for the whole Armenian nation.

"The Chapel in Der-Zor has a different significance from all the churches of the world; it's a haven for our victims. A nation that doesn't have martyrs is poor. Our martyrs walked through this desert. They died, but gave us life through their faith and sacrifice," he said.

The Museum in Der-Zor contains all the publications, whether in Armenian or other languages that pertain to the Armenian Genocide and describe it as the most heinous crime of the 20th century.

His Holiness arrived in Aleppo on night of April 22 and visited Der-Zor the next day. Bishop Shahan Sarkisian, primate of the Diocese of Aleppo as well as representatives from the diocese greeted His Holiness at the Syrian border