Senior Father Minas Cihangulyan, who has been serving the Armenian Apostolic Church for 23 years and has recently been the religious officer of the Topkapı Surp Nigoğayos, Eyüp Surp Yeğya and Eyüp Surp Asdvadzadzin Churches, passed away at the age of 88 due to the coronavirus he contracted.
On the occasion of the funeral of the deceased Senior Father Minas Cihangulyan, on Tuesday, July 20, 2021, at 10:00, the Surp Badarak will be offered at the Samatya Surp Kevork Church. Considering that the deceased father has contracted the Coronavirus, the Holy Liturgy will be held CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC. The ceremony will be broadcast live on the Patriarchate’s Facebook page.
After the ceremony, the deceased’s body will be buried in the family graveyard in the Balıklı Armenian cemetery.
The biography of the late Senior Father Minas Cihangulyan, published on the fb page of the Patriarchate:
One of the dedicated clergy of the Patriarchate Office, the chaplain of the Topkapı Surp Nigoğayos Church, Eyüp Surp Yeğya and Surp Asdvadzadzin churches, Father Minas Cihangulyan delivered his soul into the hands of Heavenly Father. Boğos, with the baptized name, was born in Samatya in 1933 as the son of Hayk Nıvart Çilingiryan couple.
He received his primary education in Sahakyan Nunyan and Karagözyan schools. On May 12, 1963, he married Anahit Nadjarian Mentechian and the couple had two sons, Hayk (1964) and Sevan (1970). He loved the church very much and successfully learned the hymns sung in the church over time. As a member of the Hripsimyants Choir, he served on the board of the choir. In 1960, he was awarded the first church rank. He was consecrated as a muganni (reader) in the Büyükdere Surp Hripsimyants Church by Patriarch Karekin Khachaduryan and was also given the authority to carry Urar.
In 1968, by the hand of Bishop Şahan Sıvacıyan, he was consecrated as junior deacon in Galata Surp Krikor Lusavorich Church. In 1968, he was consecrated as deacon in Beşiktaş Surp Asdvadzadzin Church by Patriarch Şınorhk Kalusdyan. During this service, he began to teach church hymns to a group of students in the church with a great awareness of service. Children and their families who have received this service remember him with great love and respect.
Diyakos Boğos was consecrated as a priest by the hand of Archbishop Şahan Sıvacıyan in Yeşilköy Surp Isdepanos Church on December 9, 1998, and was given the name Father Minas. During his office, he served at the Galata Surp Krikor Lusavoriç Church, the Topkapı Surp Nigoğayos Church, and the Eyüp Surp Yeğya and Surp Asdvadzaadzin churches. His outstanding service was appreciated and he was given the authority to put on the Cross.
His service was appreciated again on November 26, 2017, and he was awarded the title of “Senior Father” by the Patriarchate District Governor Archbishop Karekin Bekçiyan. With the death of Father Minas, the Office of the Patriarch has lost a servant who loves service and is equipped with a sense of duty. Deceased Father Minas, despite his advanced age, made a great effort and served in the churches under his responsibility until his last breath with a superior understanding of duty.
May God enlighten his soul.
