Following the disastrous earthquake that rocked eastern Anatolia on February 6, 2023, the Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople has been swiftly reaching out to Armenian communities in the disaster region–an area that includes many historic Armenian Church centers, and cities that held large Armenian Christian populations for centuries, prior to the Genocide of 1915.
On February 14, His Beatitude Archbishop Sahak II, the Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople, led a disaster relief committee meeting in the hall of the Patriarchate. Present from the patriarchate were Archbishop Hovakim Serovbean, Fr. Grigor Damadian, Fr. Trdat Uzunian, and Fr. Shirvan Murzian, as well as visiting dignitaries Rev. Avetis Tapashian and Orthodox clergyman Fr. Dimitri Mayoglu.
The meeting opened with a prayer, after which Patriarch Sahak spoke about the goals of the outreach effort. From the day of the earthquake, the Patriarchate’s work of supporting and assisting the people in the disaster zone began, and it has continued with momentum, he said. The Assistance Committee of the Friends the Patriarchate had already done early, emergency work, to elaborate Patriarch Sahak invited Khachik Chanel to speak in detail about the kind of work that had already been carried out. Bowing to requests from the provinces, the committee sent assistance to various parts of Malatya, Hatay, Vakifgiugh, Iskenderun, Antakia, Samantagh and Altneoziu. With the cooperation of Armenian churches outside the disaster zone, the aid campaign continues with the collection of clothes, food and necessary items.
It was also revealed that refugees from disaster-affected locales were being transported to Istanbul on the initiative of the Aid Committee, with 86 Armenian men and women having already arrived.
The pastor of the churches of Hatay, Rev. Avetis Tapashian, with deep emotion expressed thanks to the Patriarchate for its efforts, and offered his eye-witness account of the situation among Armenians in the disaster zone. He spoke about the terrible aftermath of the earthquake and the current situation, and praised God for the survivors who “felt the breath of death in the earthquake zone.”
Greek Orthodox clergyman Fr. Dimitri Mayoglu, who was in the disaster zone for three days, also gave his impressions, expressing thanks and gratitude on behalf of his community, since the support of the Armenian Patriarchate had also reached the local Greek Orthodox community.
After inquiries and proposals, Patriarch Sahak expressed thanks for the work done, affirming that the earthquake presents a moment for cooperation, solidarity and assistance, in which every Armenian should be play a role according to his strength and ability.
A Time to Survive
Immediately following the meeting, Patriarch Sahak led the monastic brotherhood to Sourp Asdvadzadzin Cathedral, to meet with earthquake victims who had arrived from various regions. A luncheon was followed by a memorial service for Armenians who lost their lives in the earthquake.
In remarks to conclude the service, Patriarch Sahak expressed his sorrow for the great disaster caused by the earthquake, for the great pain suffered by our people, and for the loss of life. He recalled the words of the Bible: “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted…” (Ecclesiastes 3:1-2).
He continued: “Now is the time to live and survive. A person can lose many things, but he should never lose his faith, hope, and love. Now is the time to live with hope, to survive.”
With those words, Patriarch Sahak invited the earthquake victims into the Patriarchal hall to talk and receive consolation. He emphasized that no matter where the guests come from, they are all children of the Armenian Patriarchate, and under its care. After giving a brief history of the community and the Patriarchal See, Patriarch Sahak conveyed his fatherly love to his listeners. He assured them that the Patriarchal See and community would always stand with them, and would continue to pray and do whatever they could to heal the material and spiritual wounds of the victims.