ETCHMIADZIN, JANUARY 22, NOYAN TAPAN. On Sunday, January 21, a solemn Repose of Souls service was offered in memory of slain journalist and human rights advocate Hrant Dink in the Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin by His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians. Dink, editor of the bilingual Agos weekly, was brutally assassinated in Istanbul, Turkey on Friday afternoon, January 19. Present for the Divine Liturgy and Requiem Service were Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia Vartan Oskanian, members of the Istanbul Armenian community, high ranking clergymen and countless faithful. The funeral service for Hrant Dink will take place in Istanbul at the St. Mary Mother of God Cathedral of the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople. As Noyan Tapan was informed from the Information Services of Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, His Holiness Karekin II has appointed His Eminence Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern), to participate in the funeral and burial services, representing the Catholicosate of All Armenians and the Brotherhood of Holy Etchmiadzin.

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