According to the Armenian Church Calendar, on Sunday, April 3, the week of “Kalistyan Giragi” (Arrival Sunday) was celebrated in the Armenian Apostolic Churches. The Patriarch of the Armenians of Turkey, Sahak II, presided over the Holy Mass (Surp Badarak) at the Gedikpaşa Surp Hovhannes Church, and preached in Armenian and Turkish.
The Church’s deacon and Senior Readers of the Church served the sacrament of the Holy Offering, which was performed by church’s religious official, Senior Father Dırtat Uzunyan, the head of the Armenian Patriarchate of Turkey, responsible for liturgies. Gedikpaşa Church Foundation Chairman of the Board Murat Özçelik, members of the board of directors and believers were present at the ceremony, and the members of the Zıvartnots Choir performed the hymns under the direction of their assistant conductor Jirayr Akmercan.
After the Holy Mass, His Beatitude the Patriarch preached in Armenian and Turkish.
After the sermons, Requiem (Hokehankisd) prayers were read for all those who sleep in the Lord. Afterwards, the ceremony came to an end with the blessing of Patriarch Sahak II and the prayer of the Lord said together. After the ceremony, all moved to the Harutyun Şanlı Hall, which bears the name of the late head of the Church, where His Beatitude the Patriarch and all believers were given fasting food as has been the tradition for years.
