The ‘Azari Event’, which is traditionally held every year with a tour of the houses, dedicated to the Resurrection of Lazarus by Jesus Christ, witnessed a different concept in Iskenderun this year. Young people, who could not travel to homes one by one due to the pandemic that has been going on for more than two years, gathered Christians from Iskenderun at the ‘Evening Table’ held in the church garden.
Christian youth living in Iskenderun are also organizing various activities within the framework of the upcoming Easter Feast. In this context, the ‘Divine Reading at Homes’ event, which was held during the Easter Preparation period, was held in the garden of St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church this year. After a short prayer, the young people who greeted those who came to the church at the gates, sang the Azari Hymn, which was sang in Arabic, with great enthusiasm and happiness, and succeed in organizing a different event this year in the name of this tradition.
After the singing of the hymns, the members of the community, as well as the young people, attended the dinner table with their children. The event, where local dishes were prepared and eaten with pleasure, almost heralded the arrival of the holiday. The members of the congregation, who received their holiday gifts along with the wishes ‘to celebrate it every year today’, went to their homes after this beautiful night.
They Herald the Glory of Jesus Christ and the Coming of the Feast
The youth and children, who were visiting many Christian homes in İskenderun in groups, were giving the good news of both the glory of Jesus Christ and the coming of the holiday, by singing special Arabic hymns for today, together with the picture of “Jesus Christ’s Resurrection of Lazarus” drawn on the canvas in their hands. This traditional hymn, which was sung enthusiastically all together, was more acceptable in homes with the sick and children.
While the youth of Iskenderun are making efforts to maintain this tradition, this year they found it appropriate to gather in the church instead of going from house to house due to the pandemic. The Iskenderun St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church Foundation also supported and stood by the young people for the realization of this event. (SAT-7 TURK/İlyas Edip TERBİYELİ-İskenderun)
