The birth of Christ was celebrated in the historical Kırklar Church in Artuklu district of Mardin. The celebration was led by Saliba Özmen, the Syriac Orthodox Metropolitan of Mardin and Diyarbakır and Gabriel Akyüz, the Parish Priest of the Kirklar Church.
Mardin Governor Mustafa Yaman, Mardin Chief Public Prosecutor Ahmet Bektaş, Provincial Police Director Hasan Onar, Provincial Director of Family and Social Policies Hüsnü Bengin Efetürk and Provincial Mufti İsmail Çiçek attended the reception organized in the hall of the church.
“There is a nice example of unity in Mardin. I would like to thank the precious members of our Syriac community for their contribution to this growing peaceful environment in the region”said Governor Yaman.
Metropolitan Özmen expressed his wish for peace and tranquility and said, “We need to pray in order to eliminate the wars in our region.” Metropolitan Özmen thanked Yaman and the state administrators for their visit.
