Malatya Surp Yerrortutyun Church, known as Taş Horan Church, was inaugurated with a ceremony presided over by the Patriarch of the Armenians of Turkey, Sahak II. The official opening of the building, which became operational under the name “Taşhoran Culture and Art Center”, was held on Saturday, August 28.
On the morning of August 29, Patriarch Sahak II also presided over the first service in the church and performed the Holy Offering. Malatya Governor Aydın Baruş, Malatya Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Selahattin Gürkan, Turkish Armenian Patriarch Sahak Maşalyan, Adıyaman and surrounding cities Metropolitan Ğriğoriyos Melki Ürek, Malatya HAYDER President Nurhan Gezdirici, NGO representatives, institution managers and citizens attended the opening.
The Patriarch of the Armenians of Turkey, Sahak II, stated that they were happy that the church, which was repaired after 100 years, was opened to the worship of the citizens and said, “We would like to share our happiness and satisfaction. Taş Horan church, which was repaired as an art and culture center 100 years later, is also open to worship for Christian citizens. Of course, we perceive this as a very important message for the peace, unity and brotherhood of this country. I would like to state that it is a great gain for all of us to bring the riches of Anatolia that begin to be gone and to bring them to light again. Congratulations” he said.
The building will serve as both a cultural center and a church. Members of the Armenian community will be able to perform ceremonies such as rituals, baptisms and weddings.
Patriarch Sahak II was accompanied by the Director of Masses, Chief Priest Tatul Anuşyan, Priest Hovagim Seropyan, Senior Father Drtad Uzunyan, Antakya Churches Religious Officer Father Avedis Tabaşyan, Father Şirvan Mürzyan and Father Şahen Ohanyan.
The Lusavoriç Choir took part in the service under the leadership of Hagop Mamigonyan to sing the Holy Offering hymns.
After the service, the clergy also visited the Malatya Armenian Cemetery and prayers were read for the losses.
FAITH VISIT TO MALATYA
Malatya Surp Yerrortuyun Church, which has been idle for more than a century, its dome was damaged and eroded over time, was restored with the contributions of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Malatya Metropolitan Municipality and HAYCAR.
In order to witness this historical day, despite the pandemic conditions, a certain number of believers and religious officials moved to Malatya for a religious visit.
Despite the surgery he had last week, Patriarch Sahak II, whose convalescence period was completed, while presiding over this faith visit, believers from Iskenderun, Elazig, Adıyaman and Diyarbakir attended the faith visit.
His Holiness the Patriarch, accompanied by Father Şirvan Mürzyan, arrived in Malatya on Friday afternoon and was greeted by High Priest Tatul, Father Avedis, and members of the Malatya Armenian Community, Serdar Boyacı and Aret Boyacı.
The official opening ceremony was held at Surp Yerrortutyun Church – Taşhoran Culture and Art Center on Saturday, August 28, 2021. The Patriarch of Armenians of Turkey, Sahak II., Malatya Governor Aydın Baruş, Malatya Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Selahattin Gürkan, Malatya HAYDER members under the chairmanship of Nurhan Gezdirici, members of the Malatya Armenian Community, believers and guests from different provinces were also present at the ceremony.
Mayor Selahattin Gürkan made the opening speech, while Nurhan Gezdirici expressed his feelings and thoughts on behalf of Malatya HAYDER. At the same time, Malatya Governor Aydın Baruş addressed the guests.
In his speech, His Holiness Patriarch said that he was very happy to witness a historical ceremony. His Beatitude the Patriarch compared the opening of the buildings to newborn children and said:
“When Surp Yerrortuyun Church was opened for worship in 1893, it was probably a source of great enthusiasm for the Malatya Armenian Community. Unfortunately, the church was damaged in the earthquake and was left alone in a storm that raged all over Anatolia afterwards. But despite all this, the building has stood firm and defying the years.”
His Beatitude the Patriarch stated that in 2010, the then Governor of Malatya, Ulvi Saran, heard the church’s cries for help and as the city’s largest state official, he signed off on an unattempted project. Thanks to this project, the rich and colorful history of Anatolia would be exhibited.
Like the Surp Haç Church on Van Ahtamar Island, this church also would open its doors years later as a church and cultural center. On this occasion, His Beatitude the Patriarch also appreciated the members of Malatya HAYDER, chaired by Nurhan Gezdirici, for their contributions. In this context, he appreciated the Architects Kevork Özkaragöz and Hosrov Köletavitoğlu from Malatya. He also appreciated the members of the Malatya Armenian Community in the person of Serdar Boyacı.
Patriarch Sahak II. During his speech, he expressed his gratitude to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy and Malatya Governor Aydın Baruş. Finally, on behalf of the members of the Armenian community in Malatya, he thanked the Malatya Metropolitan Municipality Mayor, Selahattin Gürkan, for his great efforts in the preservation of the building and the completion of the renovation works. His Beatitude the Patriarch stated that thanks to this project, Malatya gained a cultural value. Afterwards, while stating how meticulously the Mayor Gürkan was interested in the historical ruins in the city, he reminded that Malatya, which has hosted 27 civilizations, also hosted the Christian culture for 1700 years. His Beatitude the Patriarch described this work, which will also serve tourism, as follows:
“Mr. President, you see the lack of Christian faith and culture in Malatya, which you aim to open to world tourism, and you appreciate the importance of bringing this temple to the city. We congratulate you for your courage and foresight in this cause.”
His Beatitude the Patriarch stated that the revival of this work contains an important and meaningful message of friendship for the development of Turkish-Armenian relations. While wishing that this work will be fruitful for the city of Malatya, he commemorated the benefactors who laid the first foundations of the church.
At the end of the ceremony, on behalf of Malatya HAYDER, Memorial plaques were presented to Malatya Governor Aydın Baruş, Mayor Selahattin Gürkan, His Beatitude the Patriarch Sahak II. and Architect Gökçek Poyraz and Kevork Özkaragöz.
Finally, the high officials and His Beatitude the Patriarch who attended the ceremony cut the representative ribbon together. Afterwards, the attendees of the ceremony visited the photography exhibition in the church-cultural center, which depicts the renewal phases of the church. At the same time, photographs depicting the Aslantepe excavations were exhibited in the garden. The ceremony ended with a cocktail.
Blessing and Reopening to Worship
At 17:00 on Saturday, a historic moment began for the Malatya Surp Yerrortutyun Church. The Church Consecration and Reopening Ceremony was held under the presidency of His Beatitude the Patriarch. This ceremony was also the first time in the history of the Surp Yerrortutyun Church that an Armenian Patriarch of Istanbul stepped into the Church accompanied by hymns.
The ceremony started with prayers read in front of the main entrance door of the church under the leadership of His Beatitude the Patriarch, and then the clergy and believers entered the church. To the accompaniment of psalms and hymns, the priests blessed the main altar with consecrated wine and water. Later, His Beatitude the Patriarch blessed the same altar with the Holy Muron (Oil).
After the Blessing Ceremony, afternoon prayers were read. Later, the Patriarchate charter written by His Beatitude the Patriarch for the members of the Malatya Armenian Community was read in Armenian by the High Priest Tatul Anuşyan and in Turkish by the Priest Hovagim Serovpyan. After the Berat was read, His Beatitude the Patriarch handed over the charter to Serdar Boyacı.
RECEPTION
At 20:00, while the official reception dinner organized by Malatya HAYDER was held, His Beatitude the Patriarch and the guests attended the reception. Mayor Selahattin Gürkan also attended the dinner, which had a large audience.
The most meaningful moment of the faith visit in Malatya was Surp Badarak offered by Patriarch Sahak II on Sunday, August 29.
While the Surp Badarak was held for the first time in the church in more than a century, the performance of the ceremony by the Armenian Patriarch of Istanbul added an even more special meaning to the day. Priest Hovagim Serovpyan, Senior Father Drtad Uzunyan, Father Shirvan Murzyan, Father Shahen Ohanyan, Diyakos Armenak Kazancıyan, Subordinates Gazar Sabuncu, Krikor Erkan Garabetyan and Arda Pınarcı, Senior Readers Can Evyapan and Yusuf Tabaşyan served the Lord’s table. The hymns were sung by the members of the Lusavoriç Choir, conducted by Hagop Mamigonyan and accompanied by the organ of Meline Temelci.
The Spiritual Leader of Adıyaman Syriac Orthodox Church Metropolit Grigorius Melki Ürek was also present at the ceremony.
Before the Lord’s Prayer, His Beatitude the Patriarch preached and interpreted the verse “He was lost, he was found, he was dead, he was resurrected” (Luke 15:32). His Beatitude the Patriarch summarized his sermons in Armenian and Turkish; He recalled the meaning of churches and temples in accordance with the Old Testament and the New Testament.
His Beatitude the Patriarch shared clear information about the status of the church and stated that although the church has the status of a cultural center, it can be used to meet the spiritual needs of the members of the Armenian community in Malatya, to present Holy Liturgy, to perform their baptisms and weddings. On this occasion, while expressing his gratitude for the positive approach shown by the official authorities, he specially thanked the Governor of Malatya and the Mayor of the Metropolitan Municipality.
While stating the status of the church, His Beatitude the Patriarch emphasized that the church should be renovated and repaired, which gives the impression of a damaged dome and a ruined building. Although he had surgery recently, he described that he particularly wanted to attend this ceremony to the extent that his convalescence period allowed, with the following words:
“You have to be an Armenian Patriarch and a cleric to understand how I feel. I am with you to be blessed in the enthusiasm of this special day.”
At the end of his speech, His Beatitude the Patriarch also addressed the Spiritual Leader of Adıyaman Syriac Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Grigorius, and thanked him for his paternalistic attitude towards the members of the Armenian Community in Malatya and the surrounding areas. In this sense, he wished him well-being and health.
His Beatitude the Patriarch personally announced a surprise appointment at the end of his sermon. Our Spiritual Leader praised the service and hard work of Hatay Churches Religious Officer Father Avedis and entrusted him with the task of Overseer of the Anatolian Armenian Community.
After the Holy Liturgy, the deceased spiritual leaders of the Malatya Spiritual Leadership, clergy, church benefactors and all those who sleep in the Lord were commemorated with Hokehankisd prayers.
VISIT TO THE CEMETERY
After the ceremony in the church, High Priest Tatul Anuşyan, Priest Hovagim Serovpyan, Father Avedis Tabashyan, deacons and members of the Illuminator Choir visited the Malatya Armenian Cemetery. Here, prayers were read for the Armenians of Malatya, who sleep in the Lord. Visitors who were in Malatya for a religious visit were also present at the ceremony.
His Beatitude the Patriarch and his nature returned to Istanbul on Monday, 30 August.
