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: [email protected]
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March 6, 2007
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ST. VARTAN CATHEDRAL HOSTS JOINT 40TH DAY MEMORIAL SERVICE HONORING SLAIN
JOURNALIST
By Florence Avakian
Even with death threats and official harassment, fleeing Istanbul was never
an option for journalist Hrant Dink. He was a committed and dedicated
journalist. This was the resounding theme echoed by his fellow journalists
and friends during a memorial at St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral in New York
City following a fortieth day requiem service for the repose of his soul.
In his last article for Agos, the weekly newspaper he founded and served as
editor in chief, Dink wrote, "To stay and live in Turkey was necessary
because we truly desired it, and had to do so out of respect to the
thousands of friends in Turkey who struggled for democracy and who supported
us. We were going to stay, and we were going to resist."
Shortly after the article appeared, Hrant Dink was shot dead on the steps of
the editorial offices of Agos on January 19, 2007. To his thousands of
friends in Turkey, and those around the world who welcomed Dink’s courageous
support of the truth, his murder was a devastating blow. But the spirit of
support that erupted in Istanbul, by Armenians and Turks alike, has become a
sign that, even in death, Dink’s message of hopeful, peaceful reconciliation
remains profoundly compelling.
An overflowing crowd of more than 900 mourners filled St. Vartan Armenian
Cathedral in New York City on Sunday, March 4, 2007. In a rare moment of
ecumenical unity, a joint memorial and requiem service marking the fortieth
day following Dink’s assassination was celebrated by the Armenian Church,
Armenian Catholics and Armenian protestant organizations.
Heading this solemn event were Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern); Archbishop Oshagan
Choloyan, Prelate of the Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of
America; Bishop Manuel Batakian, Exarch of the Armenian Catholic Exarchate
of America; and the Armenian Missionary Association of America. The
Reverend Canon Francis V. Tiso of the United States Conference of Catholic
Bishops (USCCB) preached the Requiem homily.
WE ARE ALL HRANT DINK
In his eloquent sermon during the morning’s Divine Liturgy, Archbishop
Barsamian, speaking in Armenian, stressed the slain journalist’s exemplary
qualities: his extraordinary courage, devotion to the Armenian cause,
loyalty to his country, and his unwavering fight for democracy and
understanding.
"Hrant Dink believed in everyone’s right to speak the truth, and in this
spirit, he wanted Turkey to own up to its past," he said. "Through Agos, he
aimed to change the thinking in Turkey and open a new chapter in Turkish
history."
The Primate, who represented His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and
Catholicos of All Armenians, at Dink’s funeral in Istanbul, recalled the
mass outpouring of grief by tens of thousands of people, including thousands
of Turks, who walked past the Agos offices carrying flowers and signs
declaring "We are all Hrant Dink."
"Silently, they expressed their faith in Hrant and his work. Our Armenian
people have seen much of this kind of anguish, but sorrow must not deaden
our spirit, or blind us for our future work. We must continue the work and
dreams of Hrant Dink, so that guns will turn into flowers, and violence to
blossoming gardens," the Primate said in conclusion.
FOCUS ON FORGIVENESS
During the requiem service, the guest preacher, the Reverend Canon Francis
V. Tiso, focused on the need to seek and offer forgiveness.
Fr. Tiso, associate director for the Secretariat for Ecumenical and
Interreligious Affairs for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
(USCCB), listed a litany of past atrocities man has committed against man
before asking: "What can be done if the offender does not ask for
forgiveness. When a crime is centuries long and global in concept, it
becomes the unanswered question".
Comparing Hrant Dink to the respected Catholic monk Thomas Merton, he said
the Armenian journalist was an isolated soul, but was also deeply aware of
his role in the larger community.
"He did not want to provoke violence. For Hrant Dink, journalism was the
pursuit of truth. Reconciliation comes from a solitary person’s ability to
see the truth," Fr. Tiso said. "That we have gathered here today, forty
days after his death, is proof that Hrant Dink’s assassin failed. The truth
can never be vanquished."
DEDICATION TO THE TRUTH
Following the Divine Liturgy and requiem services, more than 750 people
filled the Haik and Alice Kavookjian Auditorium for a memorial reception
honoring Dink. Before a large, imposing picture of Hrant Dink flanked by
candles and flowers, Bishop Batakian delivered the opening prayer in the
presence of Dink’s fellow journalists.
Dr. Michael O’Hurley-Pitts of the Armenian Diocese of America introduced
several speakers from the New York Times, Overseas Press Club and PEN
American Center who addressed the crowd, highlighting Dink’s journalistic
career and his continuous dedication to discussing the truth and asking the
hard questions.
Dr. Peter Steinfels, "Beliefs" columnist for the New York Times and
co-director of Fordham University’s Center on Religion and Culture, spoke of
"a man who published in two languages that I cannot read, in a land I
visited only once, and facing dangers that I have never had to confront. has
been added to the short list of influential and heroic journalists whom I
embrace as models for my own journalism."
Pointing out that numerous journalists have been killed trying "to bring the
truth of world and local events to people," he stressed the importance of
freedom of the press and "the courage and sacrifice it takes to uphold it."
He also noted that truth — a word so often associated with Dink’s career —
can serve as the basis for understanding others.
"Truth cannot be evaded or soft-pedaled or sugarcoated, no matter that it
threatens to anger authorities, embarrass our friends or our faith,
challenge our ideology, or upset accommodations based on the treacherous
sands of falsehood," he said. "If truth is to become a basis for dialogue
and reconciliation, it requires the fullest telling possible, which is no
easy task."
To become a basis for dialogue, truth must "communicate in ways that
penetrate defenses and shatter stereotypes, as well as proclaim with a
humility open to correction and revision, which may be the most difficult
thing of all," Dr. Steinfels said.
Jeremy Main, a member of the Freedom of the Press Committee of the Overseas
Press Club, passionately spoke about the great courage it takes for someone
in Dink’s situation to practice active journalism. Though Turkey charged
the journalist under Article 301 of "denigrating Turkishness," a charge
overturned by an appeals court, Dink was still facing prosecution at the
time of his death but heroically continued his work.
"It takes exceptional courage for journalists to practice their profession.
Hrant Dink had the courage and paid the price," Main said.
The Overseas Press Club had strongly protested the prosecution of Dink
several times, following the legal developments, most recently lodging
official protests last December and fully condemned his killing this
January.
It was important to note, Main said, that Dink didn’t write to stir the pot,
rather he hoped to inspire discussion. "He didn’t raise these issues to
divide people or inflame passions. But, on the contrary, to cool matters
and bring discussion," he said.
INSPIRING WRITER
Anna Kushner, coordinator of the Freedom to Write Program of the PEN
American Center, offered her heartfelt recollections of meeting Dink, a
long-time PEN member, in Istanbul last March at the conference on freedom of
expression. She told the mourners she was holding a Christmas card Dink had
sent her just weeks earlier, when she received a telephone call informing
her of his death.
Remembering her friend and colleague, she noted that he was not willing to
self-censor his work even when threatened. He was steadfast because he knew
truthful writing could inspire an open dialogue which might lead to
reconciliation between the Armenian and Turkish communities.
"Hrant Dink spoke candidly of the challenges he faced," she said. "His
defiance was not an act of courage, but something he had to do. He gave
voice to issues people are afraid of, and don’t talk about. He was one of
the few writers that could inspire. In his death, Hrant brought people
together in ways he knew they were capable of — Armenians, Turks,
Americans, coming together as human beings."
MOVING TRIBUTE
Dressed in black highlighted by red carnations, the eighth grade students
from New Jersey’s Hovnanian School presented a beautiful program of poetry
and dramatic readings quoting some of the slain journalist’s symbolic words.
Their performance was accompanied by a professionally-prepared film by
Hovnanian School Principal Anahid Garmiryan, detailing Dink’s life and work,
from his childhood to his death. It included a moving portrait of the
massive outpouring of grief that flooded Istanbul and the globe upon Dink’s
murder.
The emotional performance ended with all the children donning masks of Hrant
Dink’s face, symbolizing the fact that "We are all Hrant Dink."
LINGERING ISSUE
Before offering his closing prayer, Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, spoke
passionately of Dink who, he said, was born in 1954, but died in 1915.
"They wanted to silence us then, but they didn’t succeed. They wanted to
silence us when they destroyed the khatchkars in Nakhichevan, but they also
didn’t succeed. And they wanted to silence the voice of Hrant Dink, but
they again have not succeeded," he said. "We are the ones who must carry on
their voices and their work. We believe in forgiveness, but it must come
from the people who died in 1915."
The sponsors of the Hrant Dink Memorial and reception included the Diocesan
Gomidas Choir, the Constantinople Armenian Relief Society (CARS), the
Tbrevank Alumni, Inc., the Armenian American Sport Educational Center – Hye
Doon, and the Esayan-Getronagan Alumni, Inc.
During the memorial service and reception, the Knights of Vartan served as
ushers and handed out small photographs of Hrant Dink to all attendees, who
wore them over their hearts throughout the day.
During the requiem service, sung by the St. Vartan Cathedral choir under the
direction of choirmaster Khoren Mekanejian and accompanied by organist
Florence Avakian, the soul-stirring Kuta Der (Have Mercy, Lord) by famed
Armenian composer Alexander Haroutunian, was performed.
— 3/6/07
E-mail photos available on request. Photos also viewable in the News and
Events section of the Eastern Diocese’s website,
PHOTO CAPTION (1): Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of
the Armenian Church of America (Eastern), addresses more than 800 people who
filled St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral on Sunday, March 4, 2007, for a requiem
and memorial service marking the fortieth day following the assassination of
Armenian-Turkish journalist Hrant Dink. (Photo by Tony Savino)
PHOTO CAPTION (2): Faithful wear an image of Hrant Dink over their heart
during the joint requiem and memorial service for the slain journalist held
at New York City’s St. Vartan Cathedral on Sunday, March 4, 2007.
PHOTO CAPTION (3): The Rev. Canon Francis V. Tiso, associate director for
the Secretariat for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs for the United
States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), speaks about the power of
forgiveness during a requiem and memorial service honoring Hrant Dink’s life
and work at New York City’s St. Vartan Cathedral. (Photo by Tony Savino)
PHOTO CAPTION (4): Archbishop Choloyan, Archbishop Barsamian, and Bishop
Batakian lead a requiem service marking the fortieth day following the death
of journalist Hrant Dink on Sunday, March 4, 2007, in a packed St. Vartan
Cathedral. (Photo by Tony Savino)
PHOTO CAPTION (5): Bishop Manuel Batakian, Exarch of the Armenian Catholic
Exarchate of America, center, flanked by Fr. Mardiros Chevian, dean of the
St. Vartan Cathedral, left, and Armenian Ambassador to the United Nations
Armen Martirossian, offers a prayer in memory of slain journalist Hrant
Dink. (Photo by Tony Savino)
PHOTO CAPTION (6): Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, Prelate of the Eastern
Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America, speaks to the more than
600 people gathered at a program in New York City’s St. Vartan Cathedral
complex celebrating the life and work of Hrant Dink. (Photo by Tony Savino)
PHOTO CAPTION (7): Dr. Peter Steinfels, "Belief" columnist for the New York
Times and co-director of Fordham University’s Center on Religion and
Culture, speaks of the importance of truth during a memorial program on
March 4, 2007, celebrating the life of journalist Hrant Dink.
PHOTO CAPTION (8): Jeremy Main, a member of the Freedom of the Press
Committee of the Overseas Press Club, discusses Hrant Dink’s desire to open
a dialogue on difficult questions.
PHOTO CAPTION (9): Anna Kushner, coordinator of the Freedom to Write
Program of the PEN American Center, shares her personal remembrances of
Hrant Dink to the 600 people attending a memorial program in the St. Vartan
Cathedral complex in New York City on March 4, 2007. (Photo by Tony Savino)
PHOTO CAPTION (10): Students from New Jersey’s Hovnanian School detail the
life and work of Hrant Dink during a joint memorial program on March 4,
2007.
PHOTO CAPTION (11): "We are all Hrant Dink," was the message sent by the
students of New Jersey’s Hovnanian School at the end of a dramatic
presentation of the works of Hrant Dink during a joint memorial program in
the Diocese’s Haik and Alice Kavookjian Auditorium on March 4, 2007. (Photo
by Tony Savino)