Surp Hovsep Armenian Catholic Church in Mardin was reopened for worship with a special ritual and blessing, after restorations completed after many years.
The oldest church of the Armenian Catholic Archdiocese in Mardin; A special blessing service was held for the reopening of the Surp Hovsep Armenian Catholic Church on Sunday morning, June 4, under the presidency of Archbishop Levon Zekiyan.
This special ritual presided over by Archbishop Levon Zekiyan; İzmir Latin Catholic Archbishop Martin Kmetec, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew’s representative Bishop Paisios Kokkinaki, Mardin-Diyarbakır Metropolitan Saliba Özmen, Kırklar Church Pastor Gabriel Akyüz, Mardin Protestant Church Pastor Ender Peker, Samatya Anarat Hığutyun Church Archpriest Abraham Fırat Gisasargavak Jan Acemoğlu and readers accompanied. Vosgeperan Choir sang hymns under the direction of Choir conductor Arek Dolduryan.
In addition to the Christian citizens living in Mardin, the foundation administrators of the Armenian and Syriac Churches also attended the opening ceremony, which attracted great interest from the people of the region coming from the surrounding provinces.
In addition, congratulatory messages from various state institutions and organizations were read by Faruk Uğurgel, a member of the Surp Hovsep Armenian Catholic Church Foundation, and thanked both those who contributed to the repair of the church and the authorities who sent congratulatory messages.
At the end of the consecration and service, The Hokehankisd (requiem) prayer was also read for the Archbishop of the period, Ignatios Maloyan, who was declared “Blessed” by Pope Paul II, who became a Martyr in 1915 while serving in the Surp Hovsep Church and the region.
After the ceremony, to which the local people showed great interest, a celebration dinner and various refreshments were served to all participants in the church hall.
