Archbishop Barsamian to attend funeral for slain journalist
Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern), asks all Armenian Churches in the Diocese to join those around the world in observing a requiem service Sunday, January 21, 2007, for assassinated journalist Hrant Dink, editor of the bilingual Turkish-Armenian weekly newspaper Agos. Dink was gunned down yesterday as he left the Agos offices in Istanbul.
“I join His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, as well as His Beatitude Archbishop Mesrob Mutafian, the Armenian Patriarch of Istanbul, in extending our deepest sympathies to the wife, three children, friends, and colleagues of Hrant Dink,” Arcbhishop Barsamian said “The murder of any human being gives us all reason to consider how we, as human beings, must abandon violence in the hopes of resolving our political, ethnic, and cultural differences.”
“The loss of Hrant Dink is not only a blow to the Armenian voices of the world, but will only diminish the common cry of all peoples who seek to live in dignity,” the Primate added. “We must re-commit ourselves to the principles of justice and peace in the wake of this tragedy.”
By directive of the Catholicos, following the Divine Liturgy on Sunday, January 21, a special Repose of Souls service will be offered in the Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin, as well as in all Armenian Church parishes throughout the world, asking for rest for the soul of Hrant Dink of blessed memory. Archbishop Barsamian has issued a directive that all parishes of the Diocese conduct requiem services.
The Primate will preside over the requiem service Sunday at the St. Vartan Cathedral in New York City.
Archbishop Barsamian is flying to Istanbul to represent His Holiness Karekin II at Hrant Dink’s funeral. The funeral service will be held on Tuesday at the St. Mary Church of the Patriarchate in Istanbul.
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