PRESS RELEASE
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Information Services
Address:  Vagharshapat, Republic of Armenia
Contact:  Rev. Fr. Ktrij Devejian
Tel:  +374-10-517163
Fax:  +374-10-517301
E-Mail:  ktrij@etchmiadzin.am
Website: 
January 22, 2007

Requiem Service Offered in Holy Etchmiadzin for Hrant Dink

On Sunday, January 21, a solemn Repose of Souls service was offered in
memory of slain journalist and human rights advocate Hrant Dink in the
Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin by His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme
Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians.  Dink, editor of the bilingual
Agos weekly, was brutally assassinated in Istanbul, Turkey on Friday
afternoon, January 19.

During the celebration of the Divine Liturgy, a special sermon was delivered
by Very Rev. Fr. Sahak Mashalian, Assistant Dean of the Gevorkian
Theological Seminary.  Fr. Sahak, originally from Istanbul and a member of
the Brotherhood of Holy Etchmiadzin, spoke on the value of truth and justice
as well as the life and legacy of Hrant Dink.

Present for the Divine Liturgy and Requiem Service were Minister of Foreign
Affairs of the Republic of Armenia Vartan Oskanian, members of the Istanbul
Armenian community, high ranking clergymen and countless faithful.

The funeral service for Hrant Dink will take place in Istanbul at the St.
Mary Mother of God Cathedral of the Armenian Patriarchate of
Constantinople.  His Holiness Karekin II has appointed His Eminence Khajag
Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America
(Eastern), to participate in the funeral and burial services, representing
the Catholicosate of All Armenians and the Brotherhood of Holy Etchmiadzin.