Priest Hovagim Serovpyan was authorized to bear the Cross and Medallion.
The 560th anniversary of the establishment of the Patriarchate of Armenians of Turkey was celebrated with a ceremony held at the Surp Asdvadzadzin Church in Kumkapı Patriarchate headquarters on Saturday, May 22, 2021, presided over by the Patriarch of Armenians of Turkey, Sahak II.
Priests, Fathers and spiritual trainees of the patriarchate attended the ceremony presided over by Patriarch Sahak II, while the head of Kumkapı Central Surp Asdvadzadzin Church foundation Hrant Moskofyan was also present.
The ritual began when Patriarch Sahak II entered the Surp Asdvadzadzin Church from the Patriarchate accompanied by a cortege. After the prayers and hymns sung by all the clergy, deacons and readers attending the service, Patriarch Sahak II blessed the 560-year-old Patriarchate Throne, and then spoke his sermon that expressed his heartfelt promise.
In his sermon he spoke in Armenian, in summary; Expressing the importance of the Patriarchate of the Armenians of Turkey for the Armenian Church, he said that the Istanbul Throne has an important place for the development and culture of the Armenian people for centuries.
He added that the 560-year-old heritage has been carried to these days, and that the Armenian people, who survived in this country with churches, schools, hospitals, church choirs, associations, clergy, teachers, students, businessmen, newspapers, will pass on this legacy to future generations.
After his sermon, he authorized Priest Hovagim Serovpyan, who is attached to the patriarchate, to carry the Cross-medallion with a ceremony and wished that the bearers of the Holy Cross would be worthy of God’s blessing with the power of the Cross.
The ceremony concluded with the Lord’s Prayer. Then, Patriarch Sahak II left the church with the cortege and went to the patriarchate.
