ISTANBUL/ISKENDERUN/MARDIN - Istanbul`s several important tourist attractions such as Covered Bazaar, Corn Market, Bouquiniste Market that are normally closed on Sundays, will be open today due to Easter holiday.
The shop owners in Covered Bazaar said they opened the Bazaar so that the tourists who are on holiday in Istanbul can make their shopping easily in the limited time. In the last three days, shops at the bazaar that usually close at 7 p.m, remained open till 9.30 p.m due to the interest of tourists.
On the other hand, Fener Greek Orthodox Patriarchate held an Easter celebration in Aya Yorgi Church at the garden of the Patriarchate in Istanbul. Many people both from Turkey and Greece, including Greece`s Consular General to Istanbul Alexandros Alexandris, attended the ceremony.
-CELEBRATIONS IN HATAY AND MARDIN-
Easter holiday has been celebrated in the churches in southern city of Iskenderun. The ceremonies that started at midnight in several churches around the city ended in the morning.
Easter celebrations in the southeastern city of Mardin will last for three days. Governor of Mardin Mehmet Kiliclar who delivered a speech at the first day of the celebrations said, "we celebrate four religious festivals instead of two in our city. Two being Muslim and two Christian."
A chorus of children sang Turkish, Syrian and Arabic chants at the ceremony.