Vienna, Austria, Armenian Genocide Monument

(Armenian inscription on the monument’s pedestal taken from the work of the Armenian poet, Avetis Aharonian).

In 1975, a Genocide Monument Committee was created that included one representative from all of the existing local Armenian organizations. By 1979, the Committee ordered a Khatchkar (cross-stone), that was 25 by 35 centimeters in size, from St. Ejmiatsin, Armenia and installed it into the external wall of St. Hripsimeh Church in Vienna. Some of the committee members insisted on the construction of a Genocide Monument. A new committee is formed to establish the April-ian Memorial. This Committee becomes under the supervision and financing of Mr. Karpis Papazian with other contributing donors such as Mr. Papazian who donated 1/3 of the project cost. In 1980, a public contest was called where the Viennese-Armenians voted for their favorite proposal. On November 7th and 23rd, 1980, the committee informed the voters of the artist participants and the result of the voting respectively. Diplom-Ingenieur Beransch (Razmik) Hartunian-Tahmasians was selected as the winner to volunteerly submit the financial reports and blueprints of his design. The metal work was executed in Bulgaria and the pieces were then transferred to the courtyard of Vienna’s St. Hripsimeh Church. The monument was dedicated on April 22, 1984 with a public ceremony. It was never relocated to where the architect/engineer had intended it to be placed within the courtyard. To the present day, it remains where it was initially erected.