85th Armenian Patriarch of Turkey His Eminence Sahak Mashalyan and students of some Armenian schools met on Thursday January 2nd to celebrate Christmas together.
Students of the Armenian primary schools of Istanbul met a patriarch for the first time after a period of 12 year for a New Year Celebration in the Kazaz Artin Amira hall in the Kumkapı Surp Asdvadzadzin Patriarchal Cathedral.
The host of the event which is organized every year was Archpriest Zakeos Ohanyan. The students welcomed Patriarch Mashalyan with the new year songs they sang in Armenian in the Kazaz Artin Amira hall.
Later, all schools presented the shows they prepared in order. They read poems, sang songs, and presented short sketches. The most interesting one was the sketch of “The birth of Jesus Christ” prepared by the Bezciyan school.
After the performances, each school student presented gifts to the patriarch. In his speech, His Beatitude the Patriarch expressed his happiness for being together with children. At the end of his words, Santa Claus entered the hall. Embracing him, Patriarch Mashalyan left his chair to Santa and said goodbye to the children.
Afterwards, Santa Claus called all the students according to their school order and presented them with the gifts prepared by the Patriarchate.
