12.24Turkey to open Armenian church to worship
A regional governor said on Thursday that Turkey would open an Armenian church in an eastern city to worship in 2010.
Münir Karaloğlu, the governor of the eastern province of Van, said they would open the Akdamar Church to worship in September 2010.
“We expect all Armenian citizens to a prayer at the Akdamar Church on September 12, 2010,” Karaloğlu told an Anatolia news agancy correspondent.
The Surp Haç Church on Akdamar Island in Lake Van was opened in 2007 as a museum after it was restored by the Turkish government between May 2005 and October 2006. The restoration cost $ 1.7 million.
Karaloğu said he had contacted the Ministry of Culture and Tourism in order to open the church to worship and to invite the Armenian community.
Former Turkish Minister for Culture and Tourism, Atilla Koç, and then Armenian Deputy Minister of Culture Gagig Gyurjian, and Mesrob II, the patriarch of Turkish Armenians, participated in the inauguration ceremony on March 29, 2007.
The Akdamar Church was constructed by architect Bishop Manuel between 915 and 921 A.D. under the supervision of King Gagik I.
Among the important pieces of Armenian architecture, the church draws attraction with its stone workmanship and the relief on its walls.
Source: Hurriyet Daily News
URL: www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=turkey-to-open-armenian-church-to-worship-2009-12-24
Congratulations!
Arabians destroyed Ottoman Castle at the Mecca because all muslims around the world learning Ottomans while their visits to Mecca. ( http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/1748711.stm)
Greeks and Sirbians destroying Ottoman bridges, mosques at the Thrace.
Why only we restored Armenian Church? Why Armenian Diaspora didn’t send any money?
December 24th, 2009 at 12:08 pm