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| Msgr. Georges Marovitch |
A service was held for Marovitch at Saint Esprit Church in Sisli. The Roman Catholic Bishop Louis-Armel Pelâtre, the Apostolic Vicar of İstanbul, Turkey's Syriac Catholic Vicar General Yusuf Sağ, Turkey's Armenians Acting Patriarch Aram Ataşyan, Istanbul Metropolitan Mayor Kadir Topbas, Şişli Mayor Mustafa Sarıgül, co-president of the Journalists and Writers Foundation Harun Tokak and many other prominent guests attended the service.
Bishop Louis-Armel Pelâtre officiated the service. At the service, Marovitch's biography was read and hymns were sung. After the service, Marovitch was buried in the Ferikoy Roman Catholic Cemetery.
Mayor of Istanbul Kadir Topbas said he met Marovitch when the current Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan was mayor of Istanbul. As a humanist, Marovitch supported the idea of an alliance of civilizations in a real sense and he strived for unity between people; Topbas told the press after the funeral. Topbas also said; "he's had an accident and after that he's had some hard times. We visited him once at the hospital. He really loved Turkey and Istanbul."
Harun Tokak, co-president of the Journalists and Writers Foundation, praised the role Marovitch played in making the world a more meaningful place. "He was a wise person. His work for building peace and brotherhood among human beings was valuable and deserves praise," he said.
'It's hard for me to forget what he said about Fethullah Gulen'
Tokak continued his words by saying he still could not forget what Marovitch had to say for Gulen; "At the time when Fethullah Gulen was on trial during the February 28th post-modern military coup era, Marovitch was called to testify. When asked about Gulen he said: 'Gulen made us love Islam. Not only the Muslim world but also the Christian world needs this great thinker.' He said this before the media, [when media attacked him unfairly and ruthlessly] said Tokak.
Fethullah Gulen extended his condolences after he learnt Msgr. Marovitch's death. He said, "I learnt that Msgr. Marovitch passed away, whose sincere efforts for world peace I witnessed. I extend my condolences to his family and relatives. I wish them patience in these difficult days". (You may read Mr. Gulen's condolences in Turkish).
Hizmet Movement (Gulen Movement) Blog's note: It was also Msgr. Marovitch who introduced the Gulen Movement to Fr. Thomas Michel. We kindly recommend the following video [in Turkish] in which Marovitch expresses his ideas about Fethullah Gülen (4 mins 23 secs.):
Published [in Turkish] on Zaman Daily, 24 March 2011, Saturday
English version retrieved from Hizmet News, 30 March 2011, Friday
