PRESS OFFICE
Department of Communications
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Jake Goshert, Coordinator of Information Services
Tel: (212) 686-0710 Ext. 160; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: jakeg@armeniandiocese.org
Website:
January 22, 2007
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PRIMATE MEETS WITH FAMILY OF SLAIN JOURNALIST, SPEAKS TO INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian
Church of America (Eastern), has arrived in Istanbul for the funeral
of slain Armenian journalist Hrant Dink. Archbishop Barsamian will be
representing His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos
of All Armenians, and the Armenian-American community at the funeral.
The Primate was received at the Patriarchate by His Beatitude
Archbishop Mesrob II Mutafyan, Armenian Patriarch of Istanbul.
The Patriarch and the Primate met privately to discuss the state of
the Armenian community in Turkey following the assassination. They
also reviewed plans for Dink’s funeral, which will be held Tuesday,
January 23, 2007, at the St. Mary Church next to the Patriarchate.
Following his meeting with the Patriarch of Istanbul, the Primate was
received at the offices of Agos, the paper Dink led as editor. He had
an opportunity to comfort and speak with the colleagues and friends
of Hrant Dink who plan to carry on his work in publishing Agos. It was
on the doorstep of his office that Dink was assassinated last Friday.
Following his visit to the Agos editorial offices, the Primate paid
a private, pastoral visit to Rakel Dink, Hrant’s wife, at their home.
The Primate conveyed the personal prayers of His Holiness Karekin II
as well as those of the more than 1 million Armenian-Americans.
Following his pastoral visit with Rakel Dink and her children, the
Primate spoke with CNN International, which is in Turkey covering
the assassination.
Dink, a long-time champion of the Armenian community in Istanbul, was
shot down Friday outside his office. In 2005, Dink was charged with
insulting Turkey by writing about the Armenian Genocide in Ottoman
Turkey between 1915 and 1918. The Turkish government’s official policy
is to deny that the genocide occurred. One suspected killer has been
arrested, and authorities have several others in custody.
Before departing for Istanbul the Primate led a requiem service at New
York City’s St. Vartan Cathedral. He directed all Armenian Churches
throughout the Eastern Diocese to hold such services on Sunday,
January 21, 2007.
"We are gathered today to join the world in grieving the loss of a
brave man, a talented journalist, Hrant Dink. His assassination in
Istanbul represents not only a loss for the Armenian people, of whom
he was a faithful son and articulate writer, but a loss for all people
of the world who love truth, free speech and responsible journalism,"
the Primate said in his remarks before those gathered at the St. Vartan
Cathedral. "He used his position to challenge those who deny the
Armenian Genocide, to shine the light of truth upon that dark chapter
and educate his neighbors about a shameful past that is hidden."
"For discussing the truth – the attempted extermination of the
Armenians in Ottoman Turkey – he was harassed on the street, tried
in court, and, ultimately, shot dead outside of his office," the
Primate continued. "May God rest his soul, and may He welcome this
noble champion of the Armenian people into His heavenly kingdom."
For the Primate’s complete remarks, visit the News and Events section
of the Eastern Diocese’s website:
— 1/22/07
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