The Armenian Apostolic Church celebrated the removal of St. Gregory the Illuminator (the illuminator) from the deep well, who was the Father of Faith and made Christianity the official religion of the Armenian people and State (301 AD. The first state in the world to accept it as an official religion).
Surp Krikor Lusavoriç’s Removal from the Deep Well is traditionally celebrated as the name day of the Kuzguncuk Surp Krikor Lusavorich Church. This year’s ceremony was held on Saturday, June 5, 2021, presided over by the Patriarch of the Armenians of Turkey, Sahak II. The ceremony was also the first annual celebration with the participation of the public, after the declaration issued by the Patriarchate in the past few days.
At the ceremony, which was broadcast live on the Patriarchate’s Facebook page, the Holy Liturgy was performed by the Deputy Patriarch, Senior Father Krikor Damadyan. Deacon Hıraçya Surenyan and Deacon Sarven Bıçakçıyan and senior readers served the sacrament. In addition to the believers who attended the ceremony in accordance with the pandemic restrictions, members of the board of directors of the Kuzguncuk Surp Krikor Lusavoric Church foundation, chaired by High Priest Zakeos Ohanyan, Priest Haruytun Damadyan, Senior Father Drtad Uzunyan, Father Şirvan Mürzyan and Yetvart Ayvazyan, were also present. Members of the Gedikpaşa Zıvartnots Choir performed the hymns under the direction of their conductor Jirayr Akmercan and accompanied by the organ of Herman Portakalyan.
Before the Lord’s Prayer and Communion distribution, Patriarch Sahak II preached in Armenian and Turkish about this special day and explained the meaning of the Deep Well (Khorvirab).
In his Armenian sermon, Patriarch Sahak II summarized; First of all, he stated that it was the first time in a long time that a church annual celebration took place with public participation, and this was pleasing. He praised God for offering this opportunity and reminded that this meaningful meeting coincided with the Feast of Surp Krikor Illuminator and stated that Surp Krikor Illuminator identified with the history and personality of the Armenian Community. The recognition of this saint by the sister churches was the best indicator of this situation. On the other hand, although it is an incorrect term, the Armenian Church has also been defined as “Lusavorçagan” or “Gregorian”. Surp Krikor, with miraculous faith, enabled the Armenian people to find the Lord Jesus Christ officially.
The Patriarch then highlighted the difference of Saint Gregory the Illuminator and said: “Because he was a man full of faith, Jesus Christ was active in him. It was filled with the Word of God, and the blessings and words overflowing from him found a place in the lives of the Armenian people. Therefore, we too must be truly filled with the Lord Jesus Christ. However, when we achieve this, we have the opportunity to be a blessing to others. Today, if we have problems and we are far from well-being, here is the main reason. Our biggest problem is that we are not sufficiently filled with God’s Word. In this direction, our past will give the greatest testimony. We stood by Christian values and discovered the spirit of life in ourselves”.
In his Turkish sermon, he spoke briefly as follows;
If there is something wrong with our church, if there is a problem, we are responsible for it, the clergy and believers.
The Armenian church can convey its values to each member of the Armenian people. Whether it is Turkish, English or Chinese, because these are the values that sustain us, they must somehow enter people’s minds and people must be inspired by them. Nothing in life can exist without roots. And if a nation does not know its own roots, if it does not understand its own roots, how will it continue its journey in history?
The Bible, the teachings of Jesus Christ, is conveyed to us by strangely using opposites. Using these opposites, Jesus tells us the truth. And so Jesus actually says to us; There is one that you see, that you experience, and there are facts that you do not see…
The biggest shortcoming in our understanding and view of life is that we live without thinking about the story of our eternal soul and we think of everything according to the grave. Life continues even after the grave. Both on earth and in another world after death. Look, people built this church, they left it, their story continues, it’s unfinished. Nothing is ever forgotten in the eyes of God. On my behalf says Jesus, whoever makes one of these little ones drink a glass of cold water, let me tell you the truth, they will never lose their reward.
At the end of his sermon, Patriarch Sahak II also touched upon the name day of the Kuzguncuk Surp Krikor Lusavorich Church and congratulated the members of the church’s foundation board for their work. Reminding that Kuzguncuk Church is well-maintained and helping other organizations of our congregation materially, His Beatitude the Patriarch conveyed his wishes for success.
At the end of the service, the chaplains, servants, benefactors, founders, and administrators of the church who sleep in the Lord were commemorated with “Hokehankist” prayers.
At the end of the ceremony, Patriarch Sahak II had a short meeting with the administrators. On this occasion, Kevork Özkaragöz, who oversees the renovation works of some of the church’s immovables, provided information to Patriarch Sahak II about the ongoing works. Patriarch Sahak II welcomed the information conveyed and wished success in similar works carried out for the benefit of the church and the Armenian community.
