ISTANBUL. – Another news item published in Istanbul’s Agos Armenian bilingual weekly is widely covered by the Turkish press.   

According to the news article, in order to organize the funeral service of Istanbul Armenian Harutyun Kambarizoglu who died at the age of 87, the Surp Garabet Armenian Church of Istanbul had asked for 8,000 Turkish liras (approx. US$ 4,420) from his daughter Anna Tasciyan, but since she could not pay that amount, she buried her father in accordance with Islamic rites and in a Turkish cemetery.      

In an interview with Haberturk, Anna Tasciyan noted that she very much wished to bury her father with Christian customs, but their financial capabilities were insufficient for this, Beyazgazete website reports.        

It is noted that Tasciyan had asked the Church to allow her to pay the 8,000 liras in installments, but she was denied this request.

“[So,] I had to accept that my father be buried in accordance with Islamic rites and in a Turkish cemetery,” said Anna Tasciyan.         

Armenian Church representative Osin Mumcuyan, on the other hand, noted that they had informed the relative of the deceased about the price list of the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople and there was nothing else to do. 

But the Patriarchate’s Spiritual Council Chairman, Reverend Father Tatul Anushyan claimed they were uninformed of all this and had they known, they would not have allowed it.