He was speaking on the eve of a debate in the German parliament on the issue.
- The Armenian Church earlier canonised 1.5 million Armenians it says were killed in massacres and deportations by Ottoman Turks during World War One.
Turkey disputes the term "genocide", arguing that there were many deaths on both sides during the conflict.
On Friday commemorations will mark the 100th anniversary of the killings.
German 'responsibility'
Speaking at a church service in Berlin, President Gauck said: "The fate of the Armenians stands as exemplary in the history of mass exterminations, ethnic cleansing, deportations and yes, genocide, which marked the 20th Century in such a terrible way."
Mr Gauck, who holds a largely ceremonial role, added that Germans also bore some responsibility "and in some cases complicity" concerning the "genocide of the Armenians". Germany was an ally of the Ottoman Empire during World War One.
His comments come as the German parliament, the Bundestag, prepares to debate a motion on the 1915 massacres.
But instead of a clear statement of condemnation, politicians will discuss an opaque, tortuously-worded sentence, which aims to be unclear enough to keep everyone happy - with the sort of convoluted phrasing that the German language is so good at, the BBC's Damien McGuinness in Berlin reports.
Germany joins Armenia genocide debate
Explosive issue
Earlier on Thursday, the Armenian Church said the aim of the canonisation ceremony near the capital Yerevan was to proclaim the martyrdom of those killed for their faith and homeland.
After the ceremony, bells tolled in Armenian churches around the world.
The beatification at the Echmiadzin Cathedral did not give the specific number of victims or their names.
It is the first time in 400 years that the Armenian Church has used the rite of canonisation.
The use of the word "genocide" to describe the killings is controversial. Pope Francis was rebuked recently by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for describing it as the "first genocide of the 20th Century".
On Friday, a memorial service will be held in Turkey and its prime minister, Ahmet Davutoglu, has said the country will "share the pain" of Armenians.
However, he reiterated Turkey's stance that the killings were not genocide.
"To reduce everything to a single word, to put responsibility through generalisations on the Turkish nation alone... is legally and morally problematic," he said.
Mr Davutoglu did acknowledge the deportations, saying: "We once again respectfully remember and share the pain of grandchildren and children of Ottoman Armenians who lost their lives during deportation in 1915.".........http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-32437633
23/4/15
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- La chiesa dell'Armenia ha santificato le vittime del Genocidio
N. Lygeros
Traduzione: Lucia Santini
In una delle più antiche chiese cristiane del mondo, nella città Etchmiadzin, la Chiesa dell’Armenia ha santificato come martiri le vittime del Genocidio.
Questo atto di innovazione da parte della Chiesa è un atto senza precedenti a causa della moltitudine dei martiri.
La liturgia è stata celebrata dal Catholicos di tutti gli Armeni e dal Catholicos della Grande Casa di Cilicia e adoperarono quattordici cimeli. Parteciparono inoltre i rappresentanti dell’Inghilterra, dell’America e del Canada.
Con questo atto che non è solo un semplice gesto, la Chiesa dell’Armenia prende posizione e integra la questione del Genocidio degli Armeni su un piano religioso, assicurando in questo modo una vittoria contro l’oblio, facendo un passo in più verso la verità. Il messaggio cristiano non lascia nessun dubbio, si basa sullo schema mentale che tutti i genocidiati, non erano semplicemente vittime, ma erano vittime che non hanno cambiato la loro fede religiosa per proteggere la loro vita. Così fino all’ultimo sono rimasti Cristiani contro la barbarie che voleva divorarli.
L’Impero Ottomano, i neo-turchi e Kemal cercarono di annientare un popolo intero. Eppure cosa riuscirono a fare con questo Genocidio? Gli Armeni sono ancora qui e le loro vittime sono Sante. Il Papa aveva riconosciuto San Gregorio come Maestro della Chiesa ed ora la Chiesa dell’Armenia ha santificato le vittime. Questa procedura sul piano religioso apre la strada a tutte le chiese della Cristianità. Ed ora il Patriarcato Ecumenico può prendere una posizione sostanziale per la nostra storia.
http://www.lygeros.org/articles?n=19421&l=it
[Opus]
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