Pastoral Visit To The Saint Sandoukht Parish in Rumelihisar

Lraper Church Bulletin 12/07/2005
Contact: Deacon Vagharshag Seropyan
Armenian Patriarchate
TR-34130 Kumkapi, Istanbul
T: +90 (212) 517-0970, 517-0971
F: +90 (212) 516-4833, 458-1365
[email protected]
[email protected]
<; PASTORAL VISIT TO THE SAINT SANDOUKHT PARISH IN RUMELIHISAR On Saturday 9 July 2005, the Armenian Church celebrated the feast of Saints Thaddeus and Sandoukht. His Grace Archbishop Shahan Sivaciyan, Patriarchal Vicar, presided over the Divine Liturgy in the Saint Sandoukht Armenian Church in Rumelihisar, on a hill on the western bank of the Bosporus Strait. Numerous pilgrims from the other 37 parishes of Istanbul attended the festivity. On Sunday 10 July 2005, His Beatitude Mesrob II, Armenian Patriarch of Istanbul and All Turkey, presided over the festivities in the same church. The Reverend Archpriest Myuron Ayvazyan celebrated the Divine Liturgy, while the Reverend Deacons Vartkes Pestilciyan, Sevan Civanyan, Harutyun Mkhitaryan and Hayk Koparyan served at the altar. The liturgical hymns were sung by the Gomidas Choir of Kurucheshme. The small church and the surrounding garden overlooking the Bosporus were full of pilgrims. In his homily, His Beatitude retold the story of Saint Sandoukht and emphasized that the follower of Christ must not only keep faith and live accordingly, but he or she must also profess it. "As Christians, we are called to bear witness confidently to the faith of our forefathers and pass it on to the new generations. Faith that is not witnessed to and spread is weakened," said the Patriarch and reminded the faithful of the words of the Saviour: "So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven; but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven" (Mt. 10:32-33). At the end of the Divine Liturgy in Rumelihisar, as in all the other parish churches in Istanbul, a special Service was held for the repose of the souls of the victims of the 7 July terrorist attacks in London. Condemning such criminal acts of terrorism and violence in general, the Patriarch reiterated that religions are for peace, and so should be the followers. A festive luncheon was then held in the church garden in honour of Saints Thaddeus and Sandoukht, attended by all those who were present. A short annual report of the activities of the parish council of Rumelihisar was read out by the Chairperson, Nouritsa Yasulkal. Armenian folk songs were sung by all. The Patriarch concluded the occasion with pastoral remarks encouraging the parishioners of Rumelihisar and with prayers. His Beatitude the Patriarch then visited the home of Ebruhi Kanaryan, one of the most senior residents in Rumelihisar. The whole family had returned from the church services and relatives were getting ready for a family reunion the same evening on the occasion of the annual feast of Saint Sandoukht. The Patriarch took coffee with the family and was present when the Kanaryans' daughter Satenik Nshanyan cut her birthday cake. Satenik is the director of the Esayan High School in Taksim, while her husband, Hayk Nshanyan, is the director of the Holy Cross (formerly Tbrevank) High School in Uskudar. Finally, the Patriarch visited the Armenian cemetery in Rumelihisar, overlooking the intercity motorway leading to the Bosporus Bridge, about twenty minutes away from the church. His Beatitude took a stroll in the cemetery, checked the condition of the early 18th century gravestones, and said a prayer for the repose of the souls of all who were buried in Rumelihisar. There are some sixty local Armenian parishioners presently living in Rumelihisar, which used to be a small fishing village in the past, populated mostly by Armenians and Greeks. St. Thaddeus is one of the twelve disciples of Jesus Christ. After the ascension of Jesus Christ, Thaddeus began his mission preaching in Edessa and then continued in Armenia. He was able to evangelize the royal palace where he baptized Sandoukht, the daughter of King Sanatrouk. She embraced Christianity and became a disciple of Thaddeus. The king was displeased, and tried to bring his daughter back into the fold of the old pagan faith. Sandoukht remained loyal to her Christian faith. As a result, she was imprisoned and subjected to torture, deprivation and finally death, thus becoming the first saint of the Armenian Church. She is also considered to be the proto-martyr, the first witness for Christianity, amongst the Armenians and an apostle because of the role she played in converting others.