Divine Liturgy to be served in Turkey’s only Armenian village

Emil Lazarian 2020
Public Radio of Armenia
Aug 15 2020

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The Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople, Archbishop Sahak Mashalyan will preside over a Divine Liturgy in Turkey’s only Armenian village of Vakifli on Sunday, August 16, Ermenihaber.am reports.

Every year on the second Sunday of August the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Holy Mother of God is celebrated at St. Astvatsatsin (Holy Mother of God) followed by a grape blessing ceremony.

Due to the coronavirus-related situation, only Armenians living in Turkey will be present at this year’s liturgy.

During the liturgy, they will taste this year’s blessed grapes for the first time, and will then eat the traditional harissa of the people of Musaler.


Emil Lazarian

“I should like to see any power of the world destroy this race, this small tribe of unimportant people, whose wars have all been fought and lost, whose structures have crumbled, literature is unread, music is unheard, and prayers are no more answered. Go ahead, destroy Armenia . See if you can do it. Send them into the desert without bread or water. Burn their homes and churches. Then see if they will not laugh, sing and pray again. For when two of them meet anywhere in the world, see if they will not create a New Armenia.” - WS