Brutal Murder of Priest ‘Anania Kochanjian’ in Lebanon

Priest ‘Anania Kochanjian’ was brutally murdered in his home in Lebanon.

‘Anania Kochanjian’ was a young Armenian priest residing in the ‘Basalim’ neighborhood in Beirut, Lebanon, and served the Christian community of ‘Zahle’ and ‘Ainjaar’.

Reports recently released about this tragic murder indicate that he was killed last Saturday, February 2nd, by multiple knife wounds in his apartment. According to initial police investigations, he returned to his apartment that day after leaving his service at the Bourj Hammoud area in Beirut. Syrian workers were working in his apartment, and when the priest arrived, they attacked him with multiple knife wounds, stole his cross, and fled the residence.

Police stated regarding the murder of Priest Anania: “This brutal crime was committed by inflicting multiple knife wounds to various parts of the victim’s body.”

The ARF Central Committee of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation in Lebanon also condemned this brutal murder and issued a statement saying: “The body of Priest Anania Kochanjian was discovered bearing signs of torture and injuries from knife wounds. This horrific crime has left the community in shock and grief.” The committee urged law enforcement to investigate the details of this horrific crime with more determination and speed, arrest those responsible, and hand them over to justice.

‘Hagop Pakraduni’, chairman of the Central Committee of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Party in Lebanon, also condemned the brutal murder of Priest Anania and posted a message on social media X regarding this horrific murder, stating: “We strongly condemn the brutal murder of Priest Anania Kochanjian, this beloved and dedicated clergyman. We emphasize the need for restraint and avoiding incitement, and we are confident that security forces will identify the perpetrators of this crime and bring them to justice.”

General ‘Joseph Aoun’, President of Lebanon, also condemned this crime, contacted leaders of the Armenian Church, and in addition to expressing condolences, assured them that security and law enforcement agencies are seriously pursuing the details of this horrific murder, arresting those responsible, and transferring them to the judicial system for the administration of justice.

It is worth noting that Priest Anania Kochanjian had previously served in the Armenian Catholicosate of Isfahan and Urmia.