Patriarch´s Pastoral Visit to Kadikoy

His Beatitude Mesrob II, Armenian Patriarch of Istanbul and all Turkey, paid a pastoral visit to the parish of the Armenian Church of ‘Christ the King’ in Kadikoy, called Chalcedon in Byzantine times. Presiding over the Divine Liturgy, the Patriarch delivered a homily on Philippians 2: 1-4, especially dwelling on the exhortation of Saint Paul: “Out of humility of mind everyone should give preference to others, everyone pursuing not selfish interests but those of others”. The Patriarch also reminded the crowd of believers who filled the church that the Advent (Hisnag) season in the Armenian Church begins on 19 November. He asked the believers to renew themselves spiritually during this traditional season by attending Bible studies, spiritual auditoriums, giving alms and hospitality, and the most important of all, putting their “inner house” in order as we “prepare the way of the Lord”. Following the liturgy, a love table was held in the Balikciyan Church
Hall by the parish council of Kadikoy. The luncheon was attended by the 60-member Surp Takavor (Holy King) Church Choir of Kadikoy, the Ladies’ Auxiliary, the board of the Aramyan-Uncuyan Parish School, the Parish Council and members of the congregation. The Revd Mashtots Kalpakciyan is the new pastor of Kadikoy where some five thousand church members live.