ETCHMIADZIN, JANUARY 20, NOYAN TAPAN - ARMENIANS TODAY. His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, sent a letter today to His Beatitude Archbishop Mesrob Mutafian, Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople, on the tragic assassination in Istanbul yesterday of journalist Hrant Dink, editor of the Agos weekly newspaper. On behalf of the Brotherhood of Holy Etchmiadzin and the Supreme Spiritual Council of the Armenian Church, His Holiness expressed his sympathies to Patriarch Mesrob, the family and friends of Hrant Dink, the editorial staff of Agos weekly and all Armenians living in Turkey. His Holiness' letter states in part: "We learned of Hrant Dink’s assassination yesterday with deep sorrow. His untimely and tragic death has shocked us all. We and all our people grieve the loss of yet another intellectual who has become an innocent victim. In the strongest of terms, we condemn this clandestine assassination which took from our people a graceful and courageous son, who faithfully brought his service with his pen for the love of a just, free and peaceful life and better world. We also expect that the authorities of Turkey will uncover and punish the individuals responsible for this crime to the fullest extent of the law." NT was informed from the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin's information system that by order of the Pontiff of All Armenians, following the Divine Liturgy on Sunday, January 21, a special Repose of Souls service will be offered in the Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin and all Armenian Church dioceses throughout the world, asking for rest for the soul of Hrant Dink of blessed memory.

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