Ohannes Sahakoğlu, head of Kartal Surp Nişan Armenian Apostolic Church Foundation, who is also one of the silversmiths of the Grand Bazaar, died in the hospital where he was treated due to the coronavirus he had been fighting for a long time. Sahakoğlu’s funeral took place on Friday, May 14, with the participation of Patriarch Sahak II.
His family, Patriarch Armenians of Turkey Sahak II, Priest Şınork Donikyan, Priest Hovagim Serovpyan, patriarchal fathers, deacons, readers, relatives, some foundation managers and friends attended the funeral at Şişli Armenian Cemetery. Father Zaven Bıçakçıyan made a short speech during the ceremony.
A statement was also made on the Facebook page of the Patriarchate of Armenians of Turkey regarding the late Ohannes Sahakoğlu;
“As of Wednesday, May 12, the news of the death of Hovhannes Sahakoğlu, Chairman of the Board of the Kartal Surp Nışan Church, caused sadness in the circles of our community. The negative effect of this sad news began to spread like lightning, especially in circles familiar with his service to the Kartal Church and his peaceful personality. While the funeral of the deceased Hovhannes Sahakoğlu took place on Friday, May 14, 2021, at 12 pm, at the Şişli Armenian Cemetery, His beatitude the Patriarch Sahak II, Priest Shnorhk Donikyan, Priest Hovagim Seropyan and religious officials also attended. Relatives and colleagues of the deceased were present at the ceremony. During the ceremony, Father Zaven Bıçakçıyan gave a speech and reminded the deceased’s love of serving the church. Stating that the deceased’s bodily loss caused a deep sadness, he said that his works for the benefit of the church will be accepted by God. Thanks to these services and good personality, he left a memory worthy of eternity. While His Beatitude the Patriarch prayed for the peace of the deceased’s soul, he offered his condolences to the family and colleagues of the deceased. Over the past ten years, Kartal Church has taken on a completely new identity in a positive sense, thanks to the outstanding efforts of its board of directors, while the renovation work of the church, which is in need of serious renovation, has been successfully completed. As a result of the deceased’s work for the benefit of the church, the church turned into a foundation with income, and Kartal Church was able to serve students and the poor in need.”
