The Holy Yergodasan Arakelots (12 Apostles) Feast and the annual celebrations of the Kandilli Surp Yergodasan Arakelots (12 Apostles) Armenian Apostolic Church were presided over by the Patriarch of the Armenians of Turkey, Sahak II.
The annual celebrations of the Kandilli Surp Yergodasan Arakelots Church, on Saturday, July 3, took place under Patriarch Sahak II. presidency.
Deacon Hrachya Surenyan, Deacon Levon Kuyumcuyan and readers served the Lord’s Supper, while the Holy Liturgy (Sacred Offering Rite) was presented by the Deputy Patriarch Senior Father Krikor Damadyan.
The hymns were sung by some members of the Kadıköy Surp Takavor Church Choir and the Priest Harutyun Damadyan, who attended the ceremony, under the direction of Sevan Şencan and accompanied by Sirun Sirunyan’s organ.
Patriarch Sahak II, who preached before the Lord’s Prayer, spoke about the Arakelots Feast and first mentioned the meaning of the name of the Kandilli Church. The church was dedicated to the 12 disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the annual celebration of the church took place on this feast every year. On this occasion, the patriarch gave weight to the word apostle and reminded that the disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ believed in a lofty idea and risked the martyrdom of faith for this cause. He reminded us that we should have ideals about our values and that we should work tirelessly to bring these ideals to life. “Although there are many disappointing sights today, that faith will come back to us as the secret to success,” he said.
Patriarch Sahak II reminded that the apostles were called by the Lord Jesus and said that they were given the duties of both discipleship and preaching the Word of the Lord. He underlined that one of the biggest problems especially in our social life today is the problem of transference and continued his words as follows:
“Our traditions and beliefs have reached us through many positive and negative movements over the centuries. We, on the other hand, have difficulty in conveying them today. I want to ask. How successful do you think we are in conveying our faith to our children and future generations? The truth is that we have learned something as good or bad students. However, the apostles remind us of the necessity of teaching and being teachers accordingly. Today, let us realize this responsibility upon us and invite the Holy Spirit to believe like the apostles, live by faith, and be equipped with the power to transmit faith.”
At the end of his speech, he appreciated Priest Harutyun Damadyan, Senior Father Krikor Damadyan and the members of the board of the Kandilli Church Foundation, headed by Hovhannes Fenerciyan, and talked about their efforts to keep this church in the remote district of Istanbul alive, and he commemorated the late head of the church foundation Dikran Kevorkyan. He also mentioned that the late Kevorkyan had served for the preservation of the Kandilli Church for decades. He completed his sermon by mentioning that he prays for the preservation of the Kandilli Church and wishes the doors of this church will be open for many more years.
After the Holy Liturgy, the deceased clergy of the church, its founders, servants, the congregation, the deceased family members of today’s benefactors of the church were commemorated with the “Hokehankisd” prayers. After the ceremony in the church, those who were present in the church came together at the table of love. On behalf of the Church Foundation Board of Directors, Hovhannes Fenerciyan expressed his feelings and thoughts. He thanked everyone, especially Patriarch Sahak II, who did not leave them alone in this hot weather and participated in the ceremony in the church.
On this occasion, while the Divine Liturgy was presented for the first time in the Kandilli Church after the adverse conditions of the pandemic, the members of the board of directors, headed by Onnik Fenerciyan, had the opportunity to host the believers.
