His Holiness Patriarch Sahak II visited the Sivas Archaeological Museum on the second day of his official visit to Sivas, Saturday, October 22, 2022, at 11:00, where he was welcomed by the Museum Director Ali Alkan and received information. At 13:00, under the presidency of His Holiness the Patriarch, Patriarchal Vicar Father Krikor Damadyan and Anatolian Churches Overseer Father Avedis Tabaşyan held a ceremony at the Sivas Armenian Cemetery. His Holiness the Patriarch preached the idea of the immortality of the soul during the ceremony. He reminded that since the soul is immortal, every mortal being will one day experience death and that day eternal life will open before them. He drew attention to the fact that everyone should value their earthly life by considering eternal life. In his fatherly speech, he advised the members of the Sivas Armenian community to remain loyal to their roots and preserve the characteristics that define their identity. He expressed his satisfaction that this small community is happy in the environment they live in. He reminded that it is important to preserve their unity as members of a single and large family and to come together frequently to experience the beauty of unity.
At the end of the sermon, prayers were said for the souls of Sivas’ clergymen who are sleeping in the Lord and the Sivas Armenians.
After the ceremony at the cemetery, a table of love was set up at a restaurant in the city center. His Holiness the Patriarch expressed his gratitude for the warm welcome and appreciated the efforts of the Sivas Armenians to keep their traditions alive.
His Holiness the Patriarch and Fr. Krikor Damadyan were taken to the VIP Lounge of Sivas Airport accompanied by Yervant Durmazgüler from our Sivas community and Dikran Togaç, Vice President of the Sivas Association. On this occasion, His Holiness the Patriarch was thanked once again for this historic visit after thirty-five years.
Father Avedis Tabaşyan, accompanied by Yusuf Tabaşyan, who accompanied him, reached Malatya by land and then Vakıfköy the next morning.