President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan, together with Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II, on Saturday attended—in the Armavir Province—the celebrations on the centenary of the heroic battle of Musa Dagh, in modern-day Turkey.

The heroic battle of the Armenian people of Musa Dagh had taken place in 1915, when the residents of several Armenian villages around Musa Dagh had refused to obey the Ottoman Empire’s decision to deport them. As a result, these Armenians defended themselves against the Ottoman regular troops for 53 days, and without any outside help. Ultimately, however, French ships came to the rescue of the Musa Dagh Armenians, and they took them to Egypt. 

The aforesaid anniversary event also brought together representatives of the French embassy in Armenia, a delegation from the French Ministry of Defence, relatives of the captains of the abovementioned French ships, Armavir residents, and numerous guests. 

Sargsyan placed flowers to the monument to the eighteen martyrs of this heroic battle and paid tribute to them, and, subsequently, a church ceremony was performed in memory of these martyrs.

Along the lines of this anniversary, the Memorial Complex of Sardarapat Battle, National Museum of Armenian Ethnography and History of Liberal Struggle organized a permanent exhibition, which the President toured.

A concert was also held within the framework of this anniversary.