Father Sahak Sahakyan, who helped Armenians escape mass killing in Kirovabad, passed away

Prelate of St. Hakob Church in Kanaker, Father Sahak Sahakyan has passed away after a long illness, the Araratian Patriarchal Diocese informs.

Father Sahak Sahakyan played a huge role in saving the Armenians of Kirovabad in 1988. He was the Prelate of the Armenian St. Gregory the Illuminator Church in the city of Kirovabad (Gandza).

At the beginning of the Artsakh war, when Armenians in Azerbaijani settlements were being massacred, Father Sahakyan hosted thousands of Armenians at the Church. Thanks to him, Armenians of Kirovabad managed to organize self-defense brigades, which helped Armenians to safely leave the city and escape mass killing.