Father Hanna Aykurt passed away in Zaz village in Tur Abdin, Turkey

TUR ABDIN, Turkey — The Syriac Orthodox Church lost one of its priests in a painful incident in Zaz village in Tur Abdin, Turkey.

Father Aykurt, who served the church in Istanbul, went to Zaz village to renovate a house there, so that he could return to the village.

While he was cleaning the roof of the house from the weeds, he got dizzy and fell down. His head was hit on the stones, causing his death.

His wife, Sarah and his son looked for him, after losing contact with him.

The hospital staff and the Turkish police confirmed the death and sent his body for autopsy.

His family is still waiting for reunification to hold the funeral service which has not been set yet.

Father Aykurt was born in 1955 in Zaz village. His parents are the late priest Issa and the late Sayde.

Father Aykurt has 9 sons, and he was ordained as a priest in 1985 in Omid (Diyarbakir) for the parish of Mary Virgin Church in 1993.

He moved to Istanbul to serve the churches of Syriac (Aramean-Chaldean-Assyrian) people in the city.

Our news desk extends sincere condolences to the Syriac Orthodox Church and his family, asking God to have mercy on him.