“Yerevman Surp Haç” (Appaerance of the Holy Cross) Week, one of the 4 feasts of the “Cross”, one of the weeks of the Resurrection Feast in the Armenian Apostolic Churches, was celebrated on Sunday, May 15th. Patriarch of the Armenians of Turkey, Sahak II. presided over the Holy Mass (Surp Badarak) at the Gedikpaşa Surp Hovhannes Church.
The senior readers and readers of the church served the sacrament in the Holy Sermon, presented by the church’s clergyman, Father Dırtad Uzunyan. Gedikpaşa church foundation head Murat Özçelik, members of the board of directors, some foundation managers and believers were present at the service, and the church’s Zıvartnots Choir members sang the hymns.
After the Holy Offering Mass, His Beatitude the Patriarch preached in Armenian and Turkish.
After the sermons, Requiem (Hokehankisd) prayers were said for all those who sleep in the Lord, especially Harutyun Şanlı, the deceased president of the Gedikpaşa Church Foundation. Afterwards, the ceremony ended with the blessing of His Beatitude the Patriarch and the Lord’s Prayer said together.