The Best of 100 LIVES Centennial News Feed

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A little less than a month ago the 100 LIVES editorial team was on the ground in Yerevan, Paris, Berlin, Buenos Aires and Moscow for the Armenian Genocide Centennial Commemoration events. We’ve picked out our best videos, photos, interviews and quotes from officials and ordinary people alike that you won’t find anywhere else – but you might spot yourself in the crowd!

April 25 2015 12:51 PM
Alexis Ohanian, founder of Reddit, in an exclusive interview to 100 LIVES: "Everything that's been happening in the last week has been adding to the momentum and amplification of history, of the Genocide. I've had people reaching out to me today to say that just because of the posts I made on social media, they went and learned a little more about the Genocide. They would say, 'I've never heard of this before, why wasn't it in my classroom?' So every bit of this helps – every tweet, Reddit post, or a film. All of these things help tell the narrative of the story.




This is only my third trip to Yerevan. But it's been a really special one. My birthday is on April 24, and I celebrated it in Yerevan before. But to be here on the Centennial with my father and my family was really special, a lot of emotions.




What I was so excited about today is that I remember what the 25th was like the last time I was here a few years ago. But it feels like today is a little bit more electric, a little bit more energetic, maybe because I spent the morning at the Tumo Center for Creative Technologies with a bunch of kids who were rocking out and telling me about all the cool stuff they were building, or because I've been meeting Armenian entrepreneurs who are building amazing start-ups in Yerevan. It felt special, and I really hope we're going to be talking about the next hundred years of Armenia and it's future, because that's what's so bright."
April 25 2015 5:43 PM

Young Frankfurter at the commemoration event in Germany.

April 25 2015 5:35 PM

Adelina Avakyan has lived in Moscow for 25 years and came to stay with her family in Yerevan for the commemoration events. For her, visiting the Genocide Museum was painful but necessary. “I have tears in my eyes. There are so many emotions that it is impossible to explain. Even knowing the history, seeing the pictures brings this powerful trauma.

April 25 2015 5:30 PM

Karen Gazaryan, standing with his wife, was one of thousands who visited the Genocide Museum today. “It is a colossal pain to visit the museum, it pierces my heart. It is a pain that remains with you all your life, remembering how my grandfather's family was killed by the Turks, how my grandfather [survived in an orphanage].

April 25 2015 5:20 PM

Diana Gasparyan, a third year university student and a translator, was one of the volunteers helping visitors in Yerevan during the Centennial events. “It's a painful topic for every Armenian. I wish everyone could relive the pain that we are reliving right now and recognize the Genocide. I was a volunteer, handing out flowers to visitors to Yerevan, and maybe it's very little, but it means something that I am part of it, reliving this pain together with my nation. I want the Genocide to be accepted. We are a little part of history, and you can't just brush away that page of world history.

April 25 2015 5:07 PM
Irina Pogosian teaches Russian literature at Brusov University and spoke to us from downtown Yerevan of reliving the pain during the commemoration events. “For me personally, these two days were extremely difficult. Because it is the Centennial, there were more events than usual. Being Armenian, even though my family was not affected by the Genocide, it is very painful. Just looking at the films being shown on television, I could not stop crying. I could not leave the house. Those families who survived continued to raise their children with this legacy. It is not lost. The stories are passed down, relayed among family and friends. That is why even one hundred years later it remains traumatic for the Armenian people and these atrocities cannot be forgotten. Everyone knows at least one Armenian who was affected by this, whose family lost their home and their lives.
April 25 2015 3:43 PM

Lilit Pipoyan, Tigran Mansourian, Tigran Hamasyan, Serj Tankian and Artur Avanesov at the press conference in Tumo Center, Yerevan, Armenia.

April 25 2015 3:37 PM

David Loftesness speaking at The HIVE tech summit at the Tumo Center in Yerevan.

April 25 2015 3:30 PM

100 LIVES EXCLUSIVE VIDEO of the torch-light procession to commemorate victims of the Armenian Genocide in Yerevan on April 24, 2015.

April 25 2015 3:21 PM

Tigran Hamasyan, Armenian jazz pianist, at the Musical Town hall meeting today at the Tumo Center.

April 25 2015 3:18 PM

One of the leading Armenian composers, Tigran Mansourian, at the Tumo Center today. He told all the young Armenian musicians to "stay true to the family tradition".

April 25 2015 3:16 PM

Serj Tankian on the first ever SOAD concert in Yerevan, Armenia: "It was a very unique experience for me. Very electric, that's the word that comes to my mind. We didn't expect people to know the words and sing along in English!"

April 25 2015 3:05 PM

Armenian singer and composer Lilit Pipoyan at the Tumo Center today, where she talked about the importance of medieval poetry for the Armenian culture and identity.

April 25 2015 2:59 PM

SOAD frontman Serj Tankian at the Musical Town Hall meeting at the Tumo Center for Creative Technologies.

April 25 2015 1:15 PM

A press conference involving Serj Tankian of SOAD, Tigran Hamasyan, Tigran Mansuryan and Liit Pipoyan is underway at the HIVE tech summit in Yerevan.

April 25 2015 12:51 PM
Serj Tankian on choosing a career in music: "When I started doing music, it wasn't a choice for me. By the time I was fifteen, by the time I was twenty, I already knew that it was my vision and my path. If you don't feel the same way, don't take that path, don't go down that road."
April 25 2015 12:45 PM

The World Symphony 24/04 Orchestra concert in the Republic Square on April 24.

April 25 2015 12:44 PM
Serj Tankian on the SOAD concert: "This concert was a very unique experience for me. Very electric, that's the word that comes to my mind. We didn't expect people to know the words and sing along in English! I have performed in Armenia before, but never with System of a Down. So it was a completely new experience for me and the members of the band, and we were very happy with it."
April 25 2015 12:43 PM

The World Symphony 24/04 Orchestra concert in the Republic Square on April 24.

April 25 2015 12:41 PM

Jivan Gasparyan at the World Symphony 24/04 Orchestra concert in the Republic Square on April 24.

April 25 2015 12:39 PM

The World Symphony 24/04 Orchestra concert in the Republic Square on April 24.

April 25 2015 12:36 PM

Raffi Krikorian of Uber: "Stop thinking and talking about Armenia as landlocked, it doesn't matter. Intelligence is equally distributed no matter where you are." At the HIVE leadership summit in Yerevan.

April 25 2015 12:25 PM
When answering a question from the audience, here's the piece of advice Tigran Mansourian gave to all young Armenian musicians today: "Stay true to the family tradition. Our songs, our love, our language are important, because our family is our fortress".
April 25 2015 12:20 PM
Lilit Pipoyan and Tigran Hamasyan improvising at the Music Town Hall Meeting a the Tumo Center in Yerevan.  
April 25 2015 12:11 PM
Armenian composer Tigran Mansourian: "After a hundred years, we are finally embarking on a new journey. One hundred years and one day later, today is the first day of the future."
April 25 2015 11:59 AM
Serj Tankian, lead singer of System of a Down: "When it comes to creative process, the musicians, the composers are often lost in their pieces. It comes from the collective consciousness. I often don't even know what I'm doing".
April 25 2015 11:57 AM
Composer Tigran Mansourian: "Our heritage is our wealth". Leading artists and composers have gathered today at the Musical Town hall meeting in the Tumo Center in Yerevan to discuss new approaches to Armenian music following the Centennial.
April 25 2015 11:55 AM
Serj Tankian on how the international audience reacts to Armenian elements in his music: "Seeing art or listening to music is often compared it eating. Specifically, to eating pizza. Some like the crust, some prefer cheese, many appreciate the meat - but it's still the same pizza. The way we perceive art or music is defined by our own experience."
April 25 2015 11:47 AM

Torch bearers at last night's procession to Tsitsernakaberd in Yerevan.

April 25 2015 11:44 AM

Lilit Pipoyan, Armenian musician, performing at the Music Town hall meeting. Earlier she said that both joy and sadness have a place in life and in music.

April 25 2015 11:33 AM

Serj Tankian about a piece he wrote to commemorate the Genocide: "I composed this tune together with a friend from New Zealand. He called me and asked what I was doing for the Centennial, so I told him about the SOAD tour. And he said: 'Yes, but do you want to do a piece together?.' So I composed the first five minutes, and then he did the next five. The idea was that in the beginning the music is very sad, it makes you think about the Genocide, and then it becomes more triumphant."

April 25 2015 11:12 AM
Serj Tankian spotted at the Music Summit in Tumo in Yerevan. 
April 25 2015 11:01 AM
At the torch-light procession to Tsitsernakaberd in Yerevan. 
April 25 2015 10:59 AM

People of all ages came together during last night's traditional torch-light procession to Tsitsernakaberd in Yerevan.

April 25 2015 10:57 AM

The cutest participant of last night's traditional torch-light procession to Tsitsernakaberd in Yerevan.

April 25 2015 10:50 AM

A commemorative plaque was installed by city legislators at St. Gregory church in Buenos Aires.

April 25 2015 10:16 AM

Alexis Ohanian, founder of Reddit: “I'm very happy to come back to Hayastan. I'm here with my family. I promised them a view of Ararat, and today we have that view. Wow.”

April 25 2015 10:14 AM

Reddit changed its logo for the Genocide commemorations

April 25 2015 10:13 AM

Leading artists and composers will gather for the Musical Town hall meeting in the Tumo Center in Yerevan, where they will discuss new approaches to Armenian music following the Centennial.

April 25 2015 10:09 AM

The Tumo Center for Creative Technologies in Yerevan, Armenia, is hosting not one but two major events today: the HIVE summit and the Musical Town hall meeting.

April 25 2015 9:58 AM

Young Armenian musicians Yana, Shushanik, Elizabeth, Eva and Ani are really excited to be at the Tumo Center today.

April 25 2015 9:43 AM

People registering for the Musical Town hall event at the Tumo Center, Yerevan, where Serj Tankian will lead the panel dedicated to new approaches to Armenian music following the Centennial.

April 25 2015 9:36 AM

Art and Technology after Centennial event will take place today at Tumo Centre in Yerevan, Armenia. Music lovers and professional musicians will participate in Musical Town hall meeting with leading artists and composers to discuss new approaches to Armenian music following the Centennial, with a panel led by the SOAD frontman Serj Tankian.

April 25 2015 8:54 AM

Lightning a candle at St. Gregory church in Buenos Aires to honor the victims of the #ArmenianGenocide #BeArmenian http://pbs.twimg.com/media/CDZihocWgAA4Bwv.jpg
 

April 25 2015 8:53 AM

Mass at St. Gregory church in Buenos Aires #ArmenianGenocide Centennial #BeArmenian #BeAlive http://pbs.twimg.com/media/CDZh2DmWEAAPLRp.jpg
 

April 25 2015 3:58 AM

Mass at St. Gregory church in Buenos Aires #ArmenianGenocide Centennial #BeArmenian #BeAlive http://pbs.twimg.com/media/CDZh2DmWEAAPLRp.jpg
 

April 24 2015 10:07 PM

The traditional torchlight procession will start from the Republic Square on April 24, 10:00 p.m. and head to Tsitsernakaberd, the Armenian Genocide memorial. This annual procession is the symbolic part of struggle for the recognition of Armenian Genocide. The number of countries whose citizens arrive to join the march honoring the memory of Genocide victims grows every year.

April 24 2015 10:01 PM

Commemoration March at the Avenue de New York, Paris, France.

April 24 2015 9:36 PM

Hundreds gathered in the heart of the French capital to commemorate the Armenian Genocide.

April 24 2015 9:32 PM

Surrounded by media, the Prime Minister of France Manuel Valls delivers a speech near the Komitas Monument in Paris, France.

April 24 2015 9:23 PM

A demonstration in Paris marks the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide

April 24 2015 9:22 PM

The crowds gather is Paris, France, to commemorate the Armenian Genocide.

April 24 2015 8:43 PM

Commemorative play called Komitas at the Maxim Gorki theater in Berlin.

April 24 2015 8:16 PM

People commemorate Armenian Genocide near Komitas Statue, Canada Square, Paris.

April 24 2015 7:26 PM

Commemoration of Armenian Genocide, near Komitas Statue, Canada Square, Paris.

April 24 2015 6:59 PM

Commemoration of Armenian Genocide, near Komitas Statue, Canada Square, Paris.

April 24 2015 6:49 PM

Commemoration of Armenian Genocide, near Komitas Statue, Canada Square, Paris.

April 24 2015 6:47 PM

Commemoration of Armenian Genocide, near Komitas Statue, Canada Square, Paris.

April 24 2015 6:11 PM
April 24 2015 6:01 PM

Mass to commemorate Armenian Genocide at the Cathedral of Córdoba, Buenos Aries, Argentina.

April 24 2015 5:29 PM

Armenians joining in in Moscow.

April 24 2015 4:53 PM

The SOAD concert in Yerevan last night was all about life.

April 24 2015 3:54 PM

Many stores are closed in Buenos Aires for the Armenian Genocide Centennial.

April 24 2015 3:43 PM

Commemoration of Armenian Genocide, Tsitsernakaberd, Yerevan.

April 24 2015 3:08 PM

Jivan Gasparyan, one of Armenia's greatest musicians, is the master of the duduk.

April 24 2015 3:07 PM

People line up in the rain to commemorate the victims of the Armenian Genocide at Tsitsernakaberd.

April 24 2015 3:04 PM

A soulful performance to mark the Armenian Genocide Centennial.

April 24 2015 3:03 PM

Many generations of Armenians are mourning victims of the Armenian Genocide at the Memorial Complex in Yerevan.

April 24 2015 3:01 PM

There is little room left for flowers at the Genocide Memorial Complex in Yerevan.

April 24 2015 2:59 PM

Eternal fire burns at the Genocide Memorial Complex in Yerevan.

April 24 2015 2:57 PM

Heavy rain can't stop Armenians from paying respects to victims of the Genocide.

April 24 2015 2:53 PM

Flowers at the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex.

April 24 2015 2:44 PM

People lining up to lay flowers at the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex.

April 24 2015 2:37 PM

A proud Armenian at the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex.

April 24 2015 2:32 PM

Armenian Genocide Commemoration Ceremony at the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex.

April 24 2015 2:29 PM

Flowers in Yerevan, Armenia

April 24 2015 2:29 PM
Memorial artwork at Tsitsernakaberd
April 24 2015 2:27 PM

Policewoman at the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex.

April 24 2015 2:27 PM

Flowers laid this morning at the Genocide Memorial Complex in Yerevan.

April 24 2015 2:17 PM

The President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan at the Armenian Genocide Commemoration Ceremony

April 24 2015 2:14 PM

Media photographing mourners at the eternal flame in Tsitsernakaberd.

April 24 2015 2:13 PM

Police holding back the line of people at the Genocide Memorial Complex.

April 24 2015 2:12 PM

After an official ceremony where four heads of state and internationaldelegations lay flowers at Tsitsernakaberd, Armenians and guests fromaround the world came in the thousands to pay their respects.Pictured here is a unit of the Armenian Customs Service.

April 24 2015 2:10 PM

Jema Ovanesian, an army veteran, came to Tsitsernakaberd to pay her respects and lay flowers at the eternal flame. She is a decedent of a genocide survivor and fought in the Nagorno-Karabakh war. “My family was killed by the Turks. My father was little, the only onewho survived. He was a working man. I fought in the [Karabakh] war, Icommanded a unit. I defended my homeland. I am glad we have an army.It was good to [have this commemoration], but there were too fewheads of state.

April 24 2015 2:09 PM

People waiting in line to lay flowers at the Memorial Complex.

April 24 2015 2:08 PM

Tom and his friends are from Poland. They came to Yerevan for the SOAD concert and other commemoration events.

April 24 2015 2:06 PM

Galya Hovsepyan, 75, on her way to Tsitsernakaberd.

April 24 2015 2:05 PM

Girl and father waiting to lay flowers at the Genocide Memorial Complex.

April 24 2015 2:02 PM

Simon Sarkisian from Glendale, California, came to Yerevan for the Centennial.

April 24 2015 1:57 PM
April 24 2015 1:47 PM

Police officers wait to lay their flowers at the Genocide Memorial Complex in Yerevan.

April 24 2015 1:47 PM

World leaders at the at the Armenian Genocide Commemoration Ceremony.

April 24 2015 1:41 PM

The President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan at the Armenian Genocide Commemoration Ceremony.

April 24 2015 1:32 PM
French President Francois Hollande at the Genocide Commemoration ceremony in Tsitsernakaberd.  
April 24 2015 1:29 PM
Founders of the 100 LIVES initiative Noubar Afeyan and Ruben Vardanyan at the Commemoration ceremony in Tsitsernakaberd 
April 24 2015 1:27 PM

The President of Russia Vladimir Putin attending the Armenian Genocide Commemoration Ceremony at the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex.

April 24 2015 1:03 PM

One hundred musicians from 40 countries will perform classical music by Armenian composers tonight at the Renaissance Concert in Yerevan at 8:15 p.m.

April 24 2015 1:02 PM

One hundred musicians from 40 countries will perform classical music by Armenian composers tonight at the Renaissance Concert in Yerevan at 8:15 p.m.

April 24 2015 12:55 PM

Ula Wozniakowska (Poland) and Vratislav Kratochvil (Czech Republic) came to Armenia together. "I didn't know much about the Armenian Genocide", says Ula, "I started researching it after I heard about the SOAD concert in Yerevan. Serj Tankian talked about it during his performance, and now I'm eager to learn more!"

April 24 2015 12:39 PM

Arnaud Benoit and Alexandra Montaner are from Nîmes, France. "I am a huge fan of System of a Down", says Arnaud. "This concert was a great opportunity for us to discover Armenia. I have been traveling all over Europe but this is a bit further, of course. And with the Centennial it was now or never!"

April 24 2015 12:34 PM

Armenian tricolor for sale. Vernisaj, Yerevan. The seller said demand has been very high.

April 24 2015 12:26 PM

Narine Khachatryan is a proud Armenian who thinks the past should not be forgotten, but the present is more important: "The Genocide is part of our identity, but we have to think about the present and live for the future".

April 24 2015 12:15 PM

Forget-me-nots at the Northern Avenue in Yerevan, Armenia

April 24 2015 12:13 PM

Tamta Tvalavadze, journalist from Georgia: “System of a Down were absolutely fabulous.”

April 24 2015 12:09 PM
Armenia is at the center of the world's media attention today. 
April 24 2015 12:06 PM

The Mikaelian family came from France to Yerevan for the first time on the most important journey of their lives.

April 24 2015 12:01 PM
Terezia from Hungary came to Yerevan for the SOAD concert. "I'm half Iranian and half Hungarian. Had no idea about Armenia. You should thank System of a Down for telling us what happened with your nation. Yesterday I went to the memorial." 
April 24 2015 11:59 AM

Sound check for tonight's World Symphony Orchestra concert at Republic Square, Yerevan.

April 24 2015 11:48 AM

Sarine Havatian from Lebanon comes to Yerevan every year. We asked her about her Armenian heritage and what it means to her.

April 24 2015 11:46 AM

A memorial forget-me-not sticker on a cafe's window at the Republic Square, Yerevan.

April 24 2015 11:37 AM

Mason Blum (United States), Anna Pestova (Russia) and Dariusz Zabieglo (Poland) have been doing volunteer work in Armenia. They came to Yerevan to participate in the commemoration events, and are looking forward to the Torchlight Procession that takes place tonight.

April 24 2015 11:19 AM
Vladimir Putin at Tsitsernakaberd: “We must do everything possible to make sure that terrible tragedies of the past are never repeated.”
April 24 2015 11:17 AM
Russian President Vladimir Putin speaking at the commemoration ceremony in Yerevan “Relations between Russia and Armenia have always been marked by a brotherhood. Today we share their grief with the Armenian people.”
April 24 2015 11:15 AM
Many streets in Yerevan, Armenia, are blocked for the commemoration events. Baghramyan street in the very center of the city is almost completely empty. 
April 24 2015 11:12 AM
“Memory should never be used to divide, it should be used to unite. The centennial should symbolize peace and reconciliation for the entire world.” Francois Hollande speaking at the commemoration ceremony in Yerevan.
April 24 2015 11:08 AM
Since 2001, France publicly recognizes the Armenians Genocide of 1915. “This law was an act of truth, because only truth will appease those who survived and to render justice,” French President Francois Hollande said at the ceremony in Tsitsernakaberd.
April 24 2015 11:05 AM
French President Francois Hollande speaking at the commemoration ceremony at the Genocide Memorial in Yerevan says the French are very proud of French-Armenian singer Charles Aznavour.
April 24 2015 11:04 AM
French President Francois Hollande speaking at the commemoration ceremony at the Genocide Memorial in Yerevan: “We will never forget this tragedy that the Armenians experienced.”
April 24 2015 11:02 AM

Here’s a list of thekey events related to the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide taking placearound the world today:

1. FRANCE: Lights of the Eiffel Tower in Paris will be switched off at 10 p.m. local time (midnight Yerevan time) in memory of the victims of the Armenian Genocide.
2. FRANCE: Starting at 3 p.m. local time a demonstration will take place at Place du Canada in Paris to commemorate the Armenian genocide.
3. USA: A “March for Justice” from little Armenia to the Turkish Consulate will take place in Los Angeles, California.
4. ARGENTINA: Mass will be held in memory of the martyrs of the Armenian Genocide in the St. Gregory The Illuminator Cathedral in Buenos Aires.
5. ARGENTINA: A march for Freedom and Justice will take place at 6 p.m. in Cordoba, Argentina, in memory of those who suffered in the Armenian Genocide. After the march there will be a recital for peace.
6. RUSSIA: A 3,000-strong rally will take place in the Gorky Park next to the Krymsky Bridge in Moscow starting at 3 p.m. local time to honor the memory of the victims of the Armenian Genocide. 
7. TURKEY: A public commemoration ceremony will take place at 7:15 p.m. local time in the Taksim Square in Istanbul  
8. UNITED STATES: A 100-minute silent sit-in will take place in Love Park in Center City Philadelphia to commemorate the beginning of the Armenian Genocide.
April 24 2015 10:40 AM
The President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan at the Armenian Genocide Commemoration Ceremony: "We still have many things to say to the world. We have a lot of things to give to the world.”
April 24 2015 10:38 AM
The President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan: “100 years have passed but we will always remember. And we’re asking for recognition.” These words have received a standing ovation from the audience.
April 24 2015 10:36 AM
Serzh Sargsyan: “The Genocide was the worst crime to ever take place. To deny such crime is to commit a crime against humanity”.
April 24 2015 9:36 AM

HYE Riders Club LA Vice President, Duster, in Yerevan, Armenia

April 24 2015 9:31 AM

People watching the Canonisation Ceremony in Etchmiadzin, Yerevan, on April 23.

April 24 2015 9:09 AM
Google adds a black ribbon to its Armenian domain 
April 24 2015 8:28 AM

The march dedicated to the Armenian Genocide Centennial in Montevideo, Uruguay.

April 24 2015 6:53 AM

Uruguay rocks! Commemorating the #armeniangenocide Centennial at Plaza de la Independencia.…
 

April 24 2015 3:24 AM
April 24 2015 3:23 AM
April 23 2015 11:00 PM
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The most notable Aremnian Genocide Centennial events through the eyes of 100 LIVES reporters