Istanbul Government Attempts to Divide City's Christians in Property Offer

It has emerged that the Istanbul city government, in an attempt to induce infighting between Turkey's Orthodox Christian minorities, has offered the Syriac Orthodox Church properties belonging to the Constantinopolitan and Armenian Orthodox Churches for the establishment of its first permanent parish church in Constantinople. More here.

Armenian Muslims Baptized in Turkey

Dozens of Armenians whose ancestors were forced to convert to Islam after the Armenian Genocide in the Ottoman Empire were baptized today in the newly reopened Church of St. Cyriacus in Diyarbakir, a city in southeastern Turkey. Archbishop Aram (Atesyan), administrator of the Armenian Orthodox Patriarchate of Constantinople, celebrated the baptisms. Archbishop Vicken (Ayvazian), an auxiliary of the Eastern American Diocese of the Armenian Orthodox Church of Echmiadzin, Metropolitan Mor Philoxinos (Cetin) of Constantinople of the Syriac Orthodox Church, and a spokesman of the Ecumenical Patriarchate were also present. More here.

550th Anniversary of the Founding of the Armenian Orthodox Patriarchate of Constantinople Celebrated

This past Sunday the Armenian Orthodox Patriarchate of Constantinople, an autonomous part of the Armenian Orthodox Church of Echmiadzin, celebrated the 550th anniversary of its establishment, with representatives of the Armenian Orthodox Churches of Echmiadzin and Cilicia participating in the festivities. More here.

Turkish Politician Visits Patriarchates of Constantinople

A leader of a major Turkish political party made visits yesterday to the seats of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople and the Armenian Orthodox Patriarchate of Constantinople to discuss the upcoming Turkish elections and the reason for his party's failure to include an Armenian candidate on its list despite the large size of Turkey's native Armenian minority. More here.

Supreme Spiritual Council of the Echmiadzin Catholicate Meets

The Supreme Spiritual Council of the Armenian Orthodox Church of Echmiadzin met this past week, with hierarchs from Armenia and throughout the world taking part under the leadership of Catholicos-Patriarch Karekin II (Nersessian) of All the Armenians. In addition to the internal affairs of the Catholicate the Council also discussed relations between the Catholicate of Echmiadzin and the Catholicate of Cilicia, ongoing issues in the life of the Armenian Orthodox Church of Constantinople (as well as the upcoming 550th anniversary of its foundation), and the upcoming visit of Catholicos Karekin to Georgia this June. More here.

Constantinople Property Returned to Armenian Orthodox Church

The Turkish government has returned a property in Constantinople confiscated from the Armenian Orthodox Church there. Since the passage of a 2008 law paving the way for the return of properties confiscated by Turkey from its religious minorities since 1974 applications have been submitted for the return of 410 properties, of which 96 have been given back. More here.

Armenian Orthodox Church in Diyarbakir to Reopen

A large church in upper Mesopotamia (modern day southeastern Turkey), St. Cyriacus' Church in Diyarbakir, is being renovated and will by reopened by the Armenian Orthodox Church of Constantinople later this year for use as a pilgrimage center as the city's once large Armenian community was completely wiped out by the area's Kurds and Turks during the Armenian Genocide. The church will quite possibly be the largest in use in the Middle East. More here and here.