The “Vartavar Feast” (Feast of the Luminous Appearance of Jesus) was celebrated with enthusiasm in the Armenian Catholic Churches of Turkey.
A Holy Mass was performed by Archbishop Levon Zekiyan at 11:00 am on Sunday, July 11, at the Tarabya Surp Andon Church.
Tarabya Surp Andon Church, which has been closed to mass and prayer for a long time due to restoration, was renovated with the support of the Surp Agop Hospital Foundation and the contributions of Ms. Serope Çubukkeryan.
Reverend High Priest Vartan Kazancıyan, Hagop Sargavak Minasyan, Gisasargavak Jan Acemoğlu, readers, Can Yontan, Levon Yunkes and Çetin Öğmen accompanied the Holy Mass.
The President of the Surp Hagop Hospital Foundation, Bernard Sarıbay, and other foundation members and the community attended the service by observing the corona measures. In his sermon, Archbishop Levon Zekiyan expressed his gratitude to the Surp Hagop Hospital Administrative Board and Serope Çubukkeryan for the restoration of the church.
The ceremony, in which Taksim Surp Hovhan Vosgeperan Choir sang chants under the direction of Chief Zaven Agay, was shared live on the social media pages of Taksim Surp Hovhan Vosgeperan Church.
“Jesus went up a high mountain, taking with him only Peter, James, and Jacob’s brother John. Before their eyes, Jesus’ appearance changed. His face shone like the sun, his clothes became white as light. At that moment Moses and Elijah appeared to the disciples. They were talking to Jesus.” This event, which is described in the Bible, is a holiday that the Armenians celebrate with great enthusiasm and fun by soaking each other after religious ceremonies, called Vartavar Festivals.
