A special ceremony marked the opening of the 2026-2027 academic year at Üsküdar Surp Haç Tıbrevank.

The opening ceremony was held in the school hall at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, September 14, 2026, and was presided over by His Beatitude Patriarch Sahak II, in his capacity as Abbot of Tıbrevank. He was accompanied by Rev. Yeğişe Uçkunyan and Fr. Melkon Pınarcıyan, Clergyman of Üsküdar Surp Haç Church.

Among those in attendance were members of the Surp Haç Tıbrevank Board of Trustees, led by Chairman Azad Özgür Demirci; the teaching staff and students under the leadership of Principal Serkan Hayk Kıyıcı; and former Board Chairman Prof. Dr. Toros Alcan.

Prior to the ceremony, His Beatitude was received at the principal’s office.

The ceremony commenced with the Turkish National Anthem. Addresses congratulating the school community on the new academic year were then delivered by Roy Merkezoğlu, a graduate of the Class of 2018; Vice Principal Tuncay Ferit Özbahçeli; Principal Serkan Hayk Kıyıcı; Board Chairman Azad Özgür Demirci; and Nubar Dinçöz, President of the Surp Haç Tıbrevank Alumni Association.

During the ceremony, a major new academic achievement of Surp Haç Tıbrevank was announced with great enthusiasm. It was revealed that the school had become the first Armenian community school to obtain authorization from the internationally renowned College Board and to be awarded eTwinning School status. In addition, the school has been admitted to the Advanced Placement (AP), Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT), and International English Language Testing System (IELTS) programs.

Following the announcement, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Artür Mumcu, an alumnus of the school, delivered the first lesson of the academic year.

In his closing remarks, His Beatitude Patriarch Sahak II recalled that Surp Haç Tıbrevank stands as a legacy of the visionary Patriarch Karekin Khachadourian of Trabzon. Emphasizing the importance of education as the spiritual leader and abbot of the institution, His Beatitude offered advice to the students, encouraging them to equip themselves with knowledge and prepare for life in the best possible way. He also underlined that the Board of Trustees works tirelessly to provide students with a healthy and promising future.

Concluding the ceremony, His Beatitude extended his paternal blessings to the members of the Board, the principal, the teaching staff, and the students, wishing everyone a successful and productive academic year.