Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, ravaged by a massive fire on Monday, was set to offer a liturgy on 22 April to commemorate the victims of the Armenian Genocide in the Ottoman Empire.
France will mark April 24 as a commemoration day of the Armenian Genocide, with the relevant decree signed by President Emmanuel Macron on 10 April.
According to the document, a ceremony paying tribute to the genocide victims will be held in Paris on this day every year. Similar events may also be held in every city at the initiative of the local governments.
Macron announced his decision to make April 24 as a national day of commemoration of the Armenian Genocide at the Coordinating Council of Armenian Organizations (CCAF) gala in Paris on 5 February.
The French leader’s move drew strong criticism from Turkey, which accused Paris of “manipulating history.”
Representatives of the Armenian community in France and French politicians visit the Komitas Monument and Armenian Genocide Memorial in Paris on 24 April every year to pay homage to the Armenian Genocide victims.