ISTANBUL (Agos) — Sarkis Eken, one of the oldest Armenians of Diyarbakir, was 86 years old and passed away Sunday night. He had been in the intensive care unit for a while.
Sarkis Eken was born in 1930 in Silvan Basbuk village in Diyarbakir. He got married to Baydzar Alata, when he was 19 years old. They moved to the city center of Diyarbakir in 1960.
Eken and his wife started to live in the courtyard of Virgin Mary Ancient Assyrian Church in 1984.
After 65 years, Sarkis Eken and Baydzar Alata solemnized their marriage in 2014 and Baydzar Alata died on June 2014, two months after they got married officially.
Living alone after his wife passed away, Sarkis Eken fell ill, when he was in his house in Sur province under curfew. Then, he was hospitalized.
Having struggled for his life for 25 days, Sarkis Eren passed away Sunday night.
There won’t be a funeral ceremony in Surp Giragos Armenian Church because of the clashes. Sarkis Eken will be buried after the funeral ceremony that will be held in Virgin Mary Ancient Assyrian Church.
