Armenian Church Turkey
12/12/06
THE PATRIARCH IN YENIKOY
On Sunday, 3 December 2006, His Beatitude Mesrob II, Armenian Patriarch of
Istanbul and All Turkey, visited the Boyacikoy Srpots Yerits Mangants (The
Holy Three Youths) Church and, after a brief prayer there, went on to the
Yenikoy Holy Mother of God Church, arriving at 10:30.
THE DIVINE LITURGY
His Beatitude the Patriarch presided over the Divine Liturgy, which was
officiated by Father Drtad Uzunyan, who is the appointed pastor at Boyacikoy
and Yenikoy. He was assisted in the Eucharist by stole-bearer Garo Segposyan
and acolyte Harutyun Culenoglu. Sacred music was provided by a small choir
under the direction of stole-bearar Artun Tekiroglu. Joining the service was
Father Andrew Wade, Hegumen of the Russian Orthodox Monastery in the Italian
city of Turin.
SERMON
His Beatitude the Patriarch reading the sermon scripture
In his sermon His Beatitude the Patriarch preached on Luke 13:1-9. The Roman
Governor in Jerusalem, Pontius Pilate, had caused the death during a
religious service of a group of Galileans who were accused of promoting
rebellion against Rome. And a group of 18 labourers of Jerusalem who were
building an aqueduct for the Romans died when the tower of Siloam fell on
them. The Pharisees thought that the rebellious Galileans deserved death for
forcefully opposing Rome. And the Zealots, who were anti-Roman terrorists,
said that the Jerusalem workers deserved to die because they were working
for Rome. Jesus Christ said neither the Galileans nor the workers of
Jerusalem should be blamed for what befell them. Instead of blaming others,
everyone should think of their own day of judgment.
To die in a tragic accident or to be saved by a miracle is not a sign of
someone’s justification before God. Everyone will taste death. Not one of us
today knows when we will die. Perhaps we will not reach home following this
service. We do not know who will have a heart attack or brain hemorrhage
this evening. Today, tomorrow, or later all of us will taste death. Humans
are mortal. But everyone does not have to remain dead. The Lord Jesus Christ
said, "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that
everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life" (John
3:16). Thus we should not forget that we are mortal. We must repent without
delay to the Lord our God, and we must accept the one Son Jesus Christ, who
was sent for our salvation, as our Lord and Saviour.
In the Old Testament, the fruit-bearing tree was typically used to symbolize
a life lived according to God’s will and pleasure (Psalm 1:3; Jeremiah
17:7,8). In the story of the fig tree that gave no fruit, the Lord Jesus
Christ warned what will happen to a fig tree that bears no fruit for the
gardener but has consumed much time and space. The Lord Jesus explained
through this example of the fruit-less fig tree how God has created
everything to be productive, and God will not be able to tolerate a long
period of non-productivity. On the other hand, let’s look at the example of
the gardener. We must not quickly abandon anything. To achieve the fruits,
we must certainly expend time and effort. We must not forget that teachers
teach their students the alphabet by having them memorize letters one by
one; and students who do not work from day to day, and who do not study long
and hard, might not be successful in the university entrance examination. If
we want to see the fruits of the Holy Spirit in the lives of our children
and youth — love, happiness, peace, patience, compassion, goodness,
loyalty, gentleness of spirit, and self-control — then we must not neglect
to train them in the way of God. It is the Holy Spirit who empowers the
Christian. Therefore we must be people who walk in the way of the Holy
Spirit (Galatians 5:22-25). We must not be people who are conceited, who
compete against each other, and who are jealous of each other (Galatians
5:26).
THE LORD’S SUPPER
Following the sermon of His Beatitude the Patriarch, the Lord’s Supper was
prepared and served among the majority of worshippers.
FELLOWSHIP TIME IN THE GARDEN
The Sunday service concluded with the Service for the Repose of the souls of
the departed the Benediction, led by His Beatitude the Patriarch. Afterwards
a table was set up in the church garden by the Yenikoy Church Council,
headed by Hagop Baltayan, and tea and cookies were offered to everyone.