Farewell Held in Qamishli for Armenian Catholic Community Leader and His Father Killed by ISIS

A farewell ceremony was held in the Syrian city of Qamishli for Father Joseph Petoyan, the spiritual leader of the Armenian Catholic community, and his father, Hanna Petoyan, who were killed by ISIS.

According to reports from Armenpress, the farewell ceremony took place at St. Joseph Cathedral of the Armenian Catholic community in Qamishli. The religious ceremony was led by Father Andranik Ayvazyan, the head of the Armenian Catholic community in Qamishli, with the attendance of Father Leon Abegyan, the apostolic vicar of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Qamishli, and religious leaders from sister communities.

During the ceremony attended by hundreds of mourners, Father Andranik Ayvazyan referred to the slain priest as a martyr for the entire Christian community and the Syrian homeland. In accordance with tradition, the body of Father Joseph was buried in a special crypt beneath the church altar, while his father's body was laid to rest in the Qamishli cemetery.