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ARMENIANS PRAY FOR GALLIPOLI VICTIMS IN HISTORIC SERVICE
Daily Sabah, Turkey
March 24 2015
DAILY SABAH
ISTANBUL
Turkey's Armenian community held a landmark service yesterday at
Istanbul churches for soldiers of all faiths who perished 100 years
ago in the Battle of Gallipoli.
The Armenian community in Turkey came together for a historic religious
service in memory of Christian, Muslim and Jewish soldiers who died
in the 1915 Battle of Gallipoli.
Service-goers prayed for the fallen soldiers following Sunday masses
in eight Armenian churches in Istanbul. Archbishop Aram AteÅ~_yan,
the patriarchal vicar of the Armenian Orthodox Church, gave the
service at YeÅ~_ilköy Surp Stepanos Armenian Church.
In the sermon Aram AteÅ~_yan prayed for the souls of everyone who
perished at the Battle of Gallipoli, "be they Muslim, non-Muslim
or atheist."
"Regardless of their ethnicity or faith, these people fought to
preserve the existence of the country they lived in. May God grant them
heaven and we pray that such sufferings will not be repeated," he said.
Following the service, Istanbul's Bakırköy Municipality hosted
a lunch to break the fast on the occasion of the Orthodox Church's
Great Lent.
Turkey marked the centenary of the battle on March 18. The Battle
of Gallipoli was the culmination of a major push from Allied Forces
seeking to control the Dardanelles during World War I. The naval
battle saw heavy casualties both in Allied and Ottoman forces and was
followed by a disastrous Allied landing in April 1915 that failed to
capture the strategic area in northwestern Turkey.
A large number of non-Muslim troops fought in the Ottoman army
along with Muslim troops both from present-day Turkey and former
Ottoman territories stretching from the Balkans to the Middle
East. Armenians and Greeks were among them and although their duty
was largely confined to serve as back-up forces, many also served on
the frontline. Historians say 299 Armenian doctors served as medics
in the Ottoman army, based on archives of the Medical Corps.
http://www.dailysabah.com/nation/2015/03/23/armenians-pray-for-gallipoli-victims-in-historic-service
Daily Sabah, Turkey
March 24 2015
DAILY SABAH
ISTANBUL
Turkey's Armenian community held a landmark service yesterday at
Istanbul churches for soldiers of all faiths who perished 100 years
ago in the Battle of Gallipoli.
The Armenian community in Turkey came together for a historic religious
service in memory of Christian, Muslim and Jewish soldiers who died
in the 1915 Battle of Gallipoli.
Service-goers prayed for the fallen soldiers following Sunday masses
in eight Armenian churches in Istanbul. Archbishop Aram AteÅ~_yan,
the patriarchal vicar of the Armenian Orthodox Church, gave the
service at YeÅ~_ilköy Surp Stepanos Armenian Church.
In the sermon Aram AteÅ~_yan prayed for the souls of everyone who
perished at the Battle of Gallipoli, "be they Muslim, non-Muslim
or atheist."
"Regardless of their ethnicity or faith, these people fought to
preserve the existence of the country they lived in. May God grant them
heaven and we pray that such sufferings will not be repeated," he said.
Following the service, Istanbul's Bakırköy Municipality hosted
a lunch to break the fast on the occasion of the Orthodox Church's
Great Lent.
Turkey marked the centenary of the battle on March 18. The Battle
of Gallipoli was the culmination of a major push from Allied Forces
seeking to control the Dardanelles during World War I. The naval
battle saw heavy casualties both in Allied and Ottoman forces and was
followed by a disastrous Allied landing in April 1915 that failed to
capture the strategic area in northwestern Turkey.
A large number of non-Muslim troops fought in the Ottoman army
along with Muslim troops both from present-day Turkey and former
Ottoman territories stretching from the Balkans to the Middle
East. Armenians and Greeks were among them and although their duty
was largely confined to serve as back-up forces, many also served on
the frontline. Historians say 299 Armenian doctors served as medics
in the Ottoman army, based on archives of the Medical Corps.
http://www.dailysabah.com/nation/2015/03/23/armenians-pray-for-gallipoli-victims-in-historic-service