According to the Armenian Church calendar, “Garmir Giragi” (Red Sunday) week, one of the Resurrection Feast weeks, was celebrated on Sunday, May 8th. Patriarch of Armenians of Turkey Sahak II presented the Holy Mass. (Surp Badarak)
While archbishop Aram Atesyan, Bishop Hovnan Hagopian, Father Harutyun Damadyan, Senior Father Kevork Çınaryan, Senior Father Dırtad Uzunyan, Father Avedis Tabasian, Father Şahen Uhanyan, Father Şirvan Mürzyan and also President of the Surp Giragos Church Foundation, Ergün Ayık and the Board members attended the mass; Archimandrite Victor Kapuşçu, representing His Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, Syriac Orthodox Metropolitan of Diyarbakır and Mardin Mor Saliba Özmen, Deputy Patriarch of the Chaldean Church Monsignor Fransua Yakan, and many believers from Turkey and abroad were also present.
His Beatitude the Patriarch preached in Armenian and Turkish during the Mass. After the sermons, Bishop Hovnan Hagopian read the decree sent by Catholicos Karekin II, and with this decree, the head of the Church foundation, Ergün Ayık, was awarded with the “Saint Sahak – Mesrop” medal of honor for his services.
Patriarch Sahak II put this medal on Ergün Ayık’s chest. Later, he invited Father Avedis Tabasian to the altar and introduced him to the believers, and by reminding that he is the overseer of the Patriarchate Anatolian Churches, he announced that he had given him the duty of clergyman of the Surp Giragos Church.
After the ceremony, the clergy and some believers took a souvenir photo. Then all went to the churchyard. Here, the “Table of Love” was presented by the church administration. Afterwards, Senior Father Kevork Çınaryan, Father Avedis Tabasyan and the group of believers went to the Armenian cemetery and said the Requiem (Hokehankisd) prayers.
