At the first week of the Lenten period, the mass of respect to the icons has been celebrated at the Mersin Greek Orthodox Church on February 25th. This is a remembrance of the end of the War of Icons which occurred at eighth and ninth centuries.
Mersin Greek Orthodox Parish Priest Rev. Fr. İspir Teymur stated: “In the year 787 in Ephesus, the Church, through the seventh universal council decisions was victorious against the deadly and false teachings. This celebration was established in 842 and an official document called ‘ Sinozikon ‘ was read in the churches during this celebration for many centuries. This document was banning all superstitious proprietors by their names. Orthodoxy is the church of ancestors, saints, and truths. Today we celebrate the feasts that the Old Testament prophets, apostles and faith ancestors have received and given us. The Holy Church has remained righteous through them and has shown the truth that has been taken from the Lord Jesus Christ to the whole world. ”
At the end of the ceremony, young children and elders carried the icons that they brought from their houses and expressed their respect with a procession in the church accompanied by hymns.
