Armenian Patriarchate of Turkey Declares Mourning Until Easter

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Details regarding the funeral ceremony of 84th Armenian Patriarch of Turkey Mesrob II Mutafyan, who lost his life on Friday (March 8) have become clear.

The Armenian Patriarchate of Turkey held a meeting under the chairpersonship of Archbishop Aram Ateshian on March 9, at 11 p.m., the Agos newspaper reported.

It was decided in the meeting that Patriarch Mutafyan's funeral ceremony will be held at the Kumkapı Main Church on March 17, at the time of Sunday service (10 a.m.). Mutafyan will be laid to rest at the Şişli Armenian Cemetery.

The Patriarchate also declared mourning until Easter (April 21). During this period, Armenian institutions affiliated with the churches, district foundations and associations will postpone their non-religious events.

Patriarch Mutafyan's body will be put on catafalque for the last service on March 14 and March 15 between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m.

Until the funeral ceremony, the churches will ring bells after morning and noon services.

He was elected the 84th Armenian Patriarch of Turkey in 1998

Patriarch Mutafyan was born in İstanbul on June 16, 1956.

Mesrob Mutafyan graduated from the American High School in Kornwestheim near Stuttgart in Germany. From 1974 to 1979, he studied philosophy and sociology in Memphis, Tennessee, US.

On May 13, 1979, he was ordained to priesthood and was commissioned pastor of Kınalıada, one of the Prince Islands in the Sea of Marmara in İstanbul. Between 1979 and 1981, he continued his theological studies in Jerusalem.

On September 21, 1986, Mesrob Mutafyan was elevated to the rank of a Bishop in Echmiadzin, Armenia. From 1982 to 1990, he coordinated the ecumenical relationships of the Patriarchate. He attended the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum) in Rome, Italy in 1988-1989.

In 1993, he was elevated to the rank of archbishop to serve the diocese of Prince Islands. From 1997, Mutafyan acted as the vicar general of the Armenian Patriarchate of Turkey.

Following the death of the then Armenian Patriarch of Turkey Karekin II Kazanjian, Mesrob Mutafyan was elected on March 16, 1998 to serve as the temporary leader of the Church.

Mesrob Mutafyan was elected the 84th Armenian Patriarch of Turkey on October 14, 1998.

(PT/VK)