Father Şahen Ohanyan and Father Natan Arabian, who set out under the leadership of Senior Father Dırtad Uzunyan within the scope of the trip, which is traditionally made every year and called “Pilgrimage”, starting from Istanbul to Kayseri Surp Krikor Lusavoric Church, then İskenderun Karasun Manuk Church and then Vakıflıköy Surp, within the scope of Covid-19 measures taken at the Asdvadzadzin Church, attended the Mass and came together with the congregation there.
The Armenian Community, which attends the rites of the Kayseri Surp Krikor Lusavoriç first, then the Iskenderun Karasun Manuk Armenian Church, the ‘Name Day’ and the “Karasun Manug” (Forty Martyrs Commemoration), and then the Vakifliköy Surp Asdvadzadzin Church, with a large community every year. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic that has been going on for two years, he could not join the Faith Trip this year.
Hatay Armenian Churches Religious Officer Avedis Tabaşyan, Reader Yusuf Tabaş, accompanied the Faith Trip, which first started on Thursday, March 11, at the Surp Krikor Lusavoriç Armenian Church in Kayseri. The Church’s Foundation Executive Board Chairman Zadik Toker and administrators as well as a small number of believers attended the Surp Badarak (Holy Mass), held by Father Avedis. After the ceremony, we set out for Iskenderun.
The continuing journey in İskenderun continued with the Iskenderun Karasun Manuk Church Name Day and the Forty Martyrs Commemoration Mass on Friday, March 12. In the Holy Communion, performed by Father Natan Arabian, the hymns were performed by Senior Father Dırtad Uzunyan, Hatay Armenian Churches Religious Officer Avedis Tabasian, Father Şahen Ohanyan, readers Yusuf Tabaş and Davut Saraçoğlu.
The Holy Liturgy at the Surp Asdvadzadzin Church in Vakıflıköy, Turkey’s last Armenian village, was held on Saturday, March 13, by Father Şahen Uhanyan. Father Avedis Tabasyan, Senior Reader Misak Hergel, Reader Yusuf Tabash served the Lord’s Supper. The hymns were performed by Father Natan Arabyan and reader Mihran Kısadur under the direction of Senior Father Dırtat Uzunyan. Patriarch Sahak II attended the service online and preached. In his sermon, he briefly expressed the importance of “Karasun Manug”. He expressed how important Vakıflıköy is for the Armenian community due to its location, that the villagers are also aware of this, that migration from city to village and reverse has a special value for Vakıflı, and that the most important job of the villagers is <accumulating love>. After the Lord’s prayer, which Patriarch Sahak II and the believers in the church said together, the ritual ended with the blessing of Patriarch Sahak II. Then, going to the village cemetery, “Hokehankist” (Ayin-i Ruhani) prayers were read for all those who sleep in the Lord and especially for the deceased clergy who served Vakıflıköy.
On Sunday, March 14, the Fathers finished their “Pilgrimage” and returned to Istanbul.
