One week before the Holy Cross Feast, one of the five major holidays of the Armenian Apostolic Church calendar, the 9th Mass was held in Van Akhtamar Holy Cross Church on Sunday, September 5, due to this feast.
Due to the fact that Patriarch of the Armenians of Turkey Patriarch Sahak II, could not attend the service in the church, which can be held once a year, due to his illness, the Head of the Patriarchate of the Armenians of Turkey, Chief Priest Tatul Anuşyan, presided.
Priest Şınork Donikyan, Priest Hovagim Serovpyan, Senior Father Dırtad Uzunyan, Pedder Şahen Uhanyan, spiritual trainees of the Patriarchate, deacons, subdeacons and members of the Patriarchate Armaş Choir were present in this year’s service.
The convoy, which set off on Friday, September 03, arrived in Van on the same day.
On Saturday, September 04, High Priest Tatul Anuşyan, accompanied by Priest Hovagim Serovpyan, visited Van Governor Mehmet Emin Bilmez in his office. During the visit, which took place in a friendly atmosphere, Governor Bilmez said “welcome” to the visitors, wished them good luck in the Sunday mass and expressed his happiness that the mass will take place this year as well. High Priest Anuşyan also conveyed the special greetings of Patriarch Sahak II to Governor Bitmez. He also offered his thanks for his closeness.
On Sunday, September 5, at the Holy Cross Church on Akhtamar Island, the Holy Offering was held by the hand of Priest Şnork Donikyan. Priest Hovagim Serovpyan, the Patriarchate’s spiritual trainees, deacons, subordinates and readers served the sacrament. Senior Father Dırtad Uzunyan and Father Şahen Uhanyan sang the hymns accompanied by the conductor and organ of Diakos Edvin Galiboğlu and members of the Patatik Armaş Choir.
Van Governor Mehmet Emin Bilmez, Van Provincial Police Chief Atanur Aydın, Van Provincial Gendarmerie Commander Brigadier General Hüseyin Bekmez, Gevaş District Governor Hamit Genç were also present at the ceremony, which was presided over by High Priest Tatul Anuşyan.
High Priest Tatul Anuşyan gave the sermon of the day in Armenian and Turkish. Speaking on the phrase (John 3:19, the Light came to the world, but people loved the darkness), High Priest Anuşyan briefly talked about the importance of the Light, and expressed that the Lord Jesus Christ is the light of the world and the value of being enlightened by this light for people. He added that following the light of Jesus Christ would be a bright path for believers, and said, “The light of Jesus Christ is truth, there is never darkness in him, and He fills our lives with His presence.”
After the sermon, the “Holy Bread” Communion was distributed.
Afterwards, the Hokehankisd prayers were recited for the Church ancestors and for all those who sleep in the Lord. With the Lord’s prayer, the liturgy within the Church came to an end.
Afterwards, they went out in a cortege for the “Antasdan” prayers. Here, too, was traditionally blessed by the High Priest Tatul Anusyan, turning to the four directions of the world.
After the ceremonies ended, Governor Bitmez and High Priest Anuşyan spoke to the press together. They also expressed their happiness for the ceremonies to take place this year. They wished that these ceremonies would take place in the coming years as well.
Surp Badarak (Holy Offering Mass) was broadcast live on the Facebook page of the Armenian Patriarchate of Turkey.
