The Best of 100 LIVES Centennial News Feed
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!
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."
Young Frankfurter at the commemoration event in Germany.
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.”
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].”
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.”
Lilit Pipoyan, Tigran Mansourian, Tigran Hamasyan, Serj Tankian and Artur Avanesov at the press conference in Tumo Center, Yerevan, Armenia.
David Loftesness speaking at The HIVE tech summit at the Tumo Center in Yerevan.
100 LIVES EXCLUSIVE VIDEO of the torch-light procession to commemorate victims of the Armenian Genocide in Yerevan on April 24, 2015.
Tigran Hamasyan, Armenian jazz pianist, at the Musical Town hall meeting today at the Tumo Center.
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".
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!"
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.
SOAD frontman Serj Tankian at the Musical Town Hall meeting at the Tumo Center for Creative Technologies.
A press conference involving Serj Tankian of SOAD, Tigran Hamasyan, Tigran Mansuryan and Liit Pipoyan is underway at the HIVE tech summit in Yerevan.
The World Symphony 24/04 Orchestra concert in the Republic Square on April 24.
The World Symphony 24/04 Orchestra concert in the Republic Square on April 24.
Jivan Gasparyan at the World Symphony 24/04 Orchestra concert in the Republic Square on April 24.
The World Symphony 24/04 Orchestra concert in the Republic Square on April 24.
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.
Torch bearers at last night's procession to Tsitsernakaberd in Yerevan.
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.
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."
People of all ages came together during last night's traditional torch-light procession to Tsitsernakaberd in Yerevan.
The cutest participant of last night's traditional torch-light procession to Tsitsernakaberd in Yerevan.
A commemorative plaque was installed by city legislators at St. Gregory church in Buenos Aires.
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.”
Reddit changed its logo for the Genocide commemorations
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.
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.
Young Armenian musicians Yana, Shushanik, Elizabeth, Eva and Ani are really excited to be at the Tumo Center today.
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.
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.
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
Mass at St. Gregory church in Buenos Aires #ArmenianGenocide Centennial #BeArmenian #BeAlive http://pbs.twimg.com/media/CDZh2DmWEAAPLRp.jpg
Mass at St. Gregory church in Buenos Aires #ArmenianGenocide Centennial #BeArmenian #BeAlive http://pbs.twimg.com/media/CDZh2DmWEAAPLRp.jpg
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.
Commemoration March at the Avenue de New York, Paris, France.
Hundreds gathered in the heart of the French capital to commemorate the Armenian Genocide.
Surrounded by media, the Prime Minister of France Manuel Valls delivers a speech near the Komitas Monument in Paris, France.
A demonstration in Paris marks the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide
The crowds gather is Paris, France, to commemorate the Armenian Genocide.
Commemorative play called Komitas at the Maxim Gorki theater in Berlin.
People commemorate Armenian Genocide near Komitas Statue, Canada Square, Paris.
Commemoration of Armenian Genocide, near Komitas Statue, Canada Square, Paris.
Commemoration of Armenian Genocide, near Komitas Statue, Canada Square, Paris.
Commemoration of Armenian Genocide, near Komitas Statue, Canada Square, Paris.
Commemoration of Armenian Genocide, near Komitas Statue, Canada Square, Paris.
Mass to commemorate Armenian Genocide at the Cathedral of Córdoba, Buenos Aries, Argentina.
Armenians joining in in Moscow.
The SOAD concert in Yerevan last night was all about life.
Many stores are closed in Buenos Aires for the Armenian Genocide Centennial.
Commemoration of Armenian Genocide, Tsitsernakaberd, Yerevan.
Jivan Gasparyan, one of Armenia's greatest musicians, is the master of the duduk.
People line up in the rain to commemorate the victims of the Armenian Genocide at Tsitsernakaberd.
A soulful performance to mark the Armenian Genocide Centennial.
Many generations of Armenians are mourning victims of the Armenian Genocide at the Memorial Complex in Yerevan.
There is little room left for flowers at the Genocide Memorial Complex in Yerevan.
Eternal fire burns at the Genocide Memorial Complex in Yerevan.
Heavy rain can't stop Armenians from paying respects to victims of the Genocide.
Flowers at the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex.
People lining up to lay flowers at the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex.
A proud Armenian at the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex.
Armenian Genocide Commemoration Ceremony at the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex.
Flowers in Yerevan, Armenia
Policewoman at the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex.
Flowers laid this morning at the Genocide Memorial Complex in Yerevan.
The President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan at the Armenian Genocide Commemoration Ceremony
Media photographing mourners at the eternal flame in Tsitsernakaberd.
Police holding back the line of people at the Genocide Memorial Complex.
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.
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.”
People waiting in line to lay flowers at the Memorial Complex.
Tom and his friends are from Poland. They came to Yerevan for the SOAD concert and other commemoration events.
Galya Hovsepyan, 75, on her way to Tsitsernakaberd.
Girl and father waiting to lay flowers at the Genocide Memorial Complex.
Simon Sarkisian from Glendale, California, came to Yerevan for the Centennial.
Unusual ways of commemoration of #armgenocide100 in #yerevan #bearmenian http://pbs.twimg.com/media/CDWWLaGXIAAfyvt.jpg
Police officers wait to lay their flowers at the Genocide Memorial Complex in Yerevan.
World leaders at the at the Armenian Genocide Commemoration Ceremony.
The President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan at the Armenian Genocide Commemoration Ceremony.
The President of Russia Vladimir Putin attending the Armenian Genocide Commemoration Ceremony at the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex.
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.
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.
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!"
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!"
Armenian tricolor for sale. Vernisaj, Yerevan. The seller said demand has been very high.
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".
Forget-me-nots at the Northern Avenue in Yerevan, Armenia
Tamta Tvalavadze, journalist from Georgia: “System of a Down were absolutely fabulous.”
The Mikaelian family came from France to Yerevan for the first time on the most important journey of their lives.
Sound check for tonight's World Symphony Orchestra concert at Republic Square, Yerevan.
Sarine Havatian from Lebanon comes to Yerevan every year. We asked her about her Armenian heritage and what it means to her.
A memorial forget-me-not sticker on a cafe's window at the Republic Square, Yerevan.
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.
Here’s a list of thekey events related to the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide taking placearound the world today:
HYE Riders Club LA Vice President, Duster, in Yerevan, Armenia
People watching the Canonisation Ceremony in Etchmiadzin, Yerevan, on April 23.
The march dedicated to the Armenian Genocide Centennial in Montevideo, Uruguay.
Uruguay rocks! Commemorating the #armeniangenocide Centennial at Plaza de la Independencia.…
#justice #neveragain #armeniangenocide Centennial in Montevideo, Uruguay. #BeArmenian #BeAlive http://pbs.twimg.com/media/CDUTvJlWYAA-ZYq.jpg
We remember the #armeniangenocide in Montevideo, Uruguay. #BeArmenian #BeAlive http://pbs.twimg.com/media/CDUPhu-W4AABTpC.jpg
Armenians show gratitude to Uruguay. #armeniangenocide #BeArmenian #BeAlive #showgratitude http://pbs.twimg.com/media/CDUM7XpW0AAL6w8.jpg