Armenian Patriarch of Istanbul decorated Turkish mayor with Order
30/5/2011
Armenian patriarch of Istanbul decorated Mayor of Sisli Mustafa Sarigul with Hovahhnes Kolot Order of Merit on the occasion of 550th anniversary celebration of Istanbul Armenian churches.
After liturgy in Surb Astvatsatsin church of Istanbul Kumkapi district, hieromonk Zaregos read out the message of the Deputy Patriarch Aram Ateshyan expressing gratefulness to Mustafa Sarigul on behalf of the Armenian Community reports Turkish Hurriyet.
“Among many merits of the Mayor of Sisli, we greatly respect his material and moral assistance for organizations of national minorities. Restoration of churches, support on community and school level cannot be measured from mere material respect,” reads the message.
Mustafa Sarigul is the first Muslim to have ever received this award.
