Having served as the spiritual leader for Catholic Armenians in Turkey for 78 years, Archbishop Hovhannes Tcholakian has passed away, Agos reports. 

The spiritual leader of Catholic Armenians in Turkey Hovhannes Tcholakian has passed away at 97. He had served as the Archbishop of Istanbul for 78 years.

The funeral ceremony will be held in Surp Hovhannes Vosgeperan Church in Istanbul on September 23 at 2.30 pm.