A special ceremony and commemoration was held in Şişli Armenian Catholic Cemetery, the largest cemetery of the Armenian Catholic Archdiocese in Istanbul, on Monday, 16 August, the day after the “Feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary”, under the direction of Archpriest Hayr Vartan Kazancıyan.
High Priest Vartan Kazancıyan, Derayr Haygaram Çekiç, Junior Deacon Jan Acemoğlu and reader Levon Yunkes accompanied the special service held in the cemetery.
While praying for all the dead in the ritual; After Or Merelots commemoration in the Cemetery, the clergy also recited Hokehankisd prayers for all the dead in the cemetery.
After the Or Merelots commemoration held at the cemetery in the morning, a special service was held at 17:00 for the sick and elderly people in need of care in the French Elderly Home. The rites and ceremonies in which the Surp Hovhan Vosgeperan Choir performed hymns under the direction of Chief Zaven Agay were shared live on the social media pages of the Taksim Surp Hovhan Vosgeperan Church.
Or Merelots
Cemeteries are visited on the next day of major holidays. Those who sleep in the Lord Christ (Or Merelots) are remembered with mercy and prayers in churches and especially in cemeteries. On this occasion prayers (Hokehankisd) are made for all who sleep in the Lord. It also reminds us of the fact that Jesus Christ suffered, was crucified, died, and rose from the dead not only for the living, but also for the ones that are physically absent .
