Before the COP29 conference, prayer services were held around the world in support of the Armenian captives in Baku

Christian churches around the world held coordinated ecumenical prayer services last weekend to call believers to global unity against the illegal detention of captives in Baku.

During the prayer service, which was led in London by Bishop Hovakim Manoukian, Primate of the Diocese of Great Britain and Ireland of the Armenian Church, Seda Hambardzoumian, the niece of Ruben Vardanyan, gave a speech. Here is her speech in full.

“Hello, ladies and gentlemen!

Let us think together about the profound question: what does it mean to believe in something bigger than ourselves? In a time when personal success is the most important thing, it is difficult for many people to imagine living for the collective good and to understand the true value of freedom. Yet, thanks to history and our heritage, we know that true freedom is not a gift, but a responsibility. It often requires sacrifice.

Today I had the opportunity to share a deeply personal reflection on my uncle Ruben Vardanyan. This man devoted his entire life to principles that he considered more important than boundaries, comfort and even his own safety. For me, he is not just a philanthropist and humanitarian, but a man of unwavering convictions who showed through his actions what it means to live for something bigger than yourself.

Ruben’s story in many ways serves to epitomize this truth. His decision to support the people of Artsakh in a time of deep uncertainty was not motivated by political motives, but by a sincere human impulse. Having witnessed the suffering, resilience and courage of those who had endured hardship for generations, he felt it was his duty to be among these people. It was not an easy choice: he had to endure a ten-month blockade, miss the birth of his first grandchild and sacrifice many other important events. Yet Ruben Vardanyan could not give up this responsibility, could not help but follow this deep inner call. Even now, imprisoned in one of the most repressive countries, he thinks not so much about his own fate as about the future of his people.

Ruben showed that freedom sometimes requires more than words or feelings. It requires action, which often comes at too high a cost. Many Armenians know firsthand this resilience and willingness to sacrifice – a testament to our shared history and the strength that leads us forward.

This spirit is also felt in one of Ruben’s most significant projects, the Aurora humanitarian initiative. In 2015, on the centennial of the Armenian genocide, my uncle, along with Nubar Afeyan and the late Vartan Gregoryan, sought not just to honor our past, but to turn the memory of it into a call for compassion. They envisioned the Aurora Award as an award for modern-day heroes – people like Marguerite Barankits, who saved thousands of children’s lives during Burundi’s civil war, or Dr. Tom Catena, who provided emergency medical care in the Nuba Mountains of Sudan under unimaginably difficult conditions. These heroes risk their lives not for personal gain, but because they believe in a better future for others. Through the Aurora Award, my uncle and the other co-founders sought to bring attention to the courage and resilience that define both the history of the Armenian people and the spirit of humanity.

I remember how deeply moved I was by the words spoken one Sunday morning after Ruben’s arrest. I went to church that day and caught myself wondering how such an injustice could have happened to my family, to my people, to those brave men and women who sacrificed themselves in 2020 in defense of our homeland. The sermon that Fr. Nshan delivered then still resonates within me. He reminded us that history was more often made not by groups of people, but by individuals who believed strongly in their cause, acted on those beliefs and were willing to sacrifice themselves. “We don’t need the masses,” he said, ”we need a handful of people who really care”.

Ruben believes that every honest and kind act brings us one step closer to justice. Peace for him is not just the absence of conflict, but a spirit of compassion, shared responsibility and unbreakable determination.

It is this principle of giving more than you expect to receive that lies at the heart of the Aurora initiative. My uncle has followed this principle all his life. Even now, imprisoned, he does not retreat from his convictions. His devotion to his ideals reminds us that service does not always look heroic. Sometimes it can be as simple as being there for those who need you most. But this is very important.

Gathering here today, let us remember Ruben’s quiet courage. It hurts us to witness his suffering, but it only emphasizes the dignity with which he always held himself. But it is not enough to admire his strength. Let us hear what he wanted to convey: in a world so often focused on personal success, there is still room for compassion, resilience and service. We must remember: sometimes all it takes is faith to make a difference. Faith that our actions, no matter how small they may seem, can light the way forward.

Thank you”.