ARMENIAN PATRIARCHATE

Last week, while wars continued in our region, geopolitical developments changed at an untraceable speed, and diplomacy in the world was completely devastated, President Erdoğan took a historical and hopeful step by inviting Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to Istanbul for a working visit. While this historically significant visit for Turkey and Armenia was taking place, we witnessed another disgrace that would cause a source of shame for the history of Istanbul Armenians – which we hope will not be repeated – and will be written as a black stain on the history of the Armenian Patriarchate of Turkey. In the absence of the Patriarch, and probably with instructions from the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Patriarchate officials locked the doors of the Patriarchate and played the "we're not home" game with a guest who came to their house, even though they were inside.

Armenian society is also nervous about the recent suicide attacks. The Patriarchate made a statement to Agos about the rumors concerning the Easter that will be celebrated on next Sunday.

Bilgi Merkezi Research and Publishing donated 1000 Qurans in Armenian (500 in Eastern and 500 in Western Armenian) to Armenian Patriarchate in Kumkapı.

The Patriarchate of the Armenians of Turkey will hold mass on April 24 in memory of ‘those who lost their lives in 1915’. In his speech at mass, Archbishop Aram Ateşyan will not use the term “Genocide” but will emphasize “shared pain”.