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GEORGIA TO FUND RESTORATION OF HISTORICAL MONASTERY IN EASTERN TURKEY
armradio.am
05.06.2008 10:56
The Georgian government is set to fund efforts to restore a historical
monastery in the Turkish village of Camlyamac, in the eastern province
of Erzurum, a local official said, Today's Zaman reports.
The Osvank Monastery was constructed between the years 963 and 973
and was dedicated to St. John the Baptist.
The monastery included a church, a refectory and a scriptorium. It
was one of the most important bishoprics in the region and a center
of culture especially famous for its manuscripts. The church is by
far the largest cruciform-shaped church in the region.
It retained its importance until the end of the 15th century.
"In 1985 the Turkish Ministry of Culture designated it as a monument
to be protected and preserved and included it on the national heritage
list. It remains an important destination among Georgian tourists
visiting Turkey," the newspaper says.
"There were no Georgian churches in Western Armenia, specifically
at the time mentioned," director of the Armenian Genocide Institute
Museum Hayk Demoyan commented
"The monastery belonged to Chalcedonic Armenians. The cross on the
temple was a bit different from a Gregorian. Later it was replaced
by an Orthodox one. There is an inscription in Asomtavruli (ancient
Georgian) above one of the ornaments in the Church. That is why
Georgia thinks it's a Georgian temple," Demoyan said.
Erzurum is one of Islamic centers of the Republic of Turkey, where
nothing reminds about the nation which once inhabited this land. Some
10 Armenians temples, including Surb Astvatsatsin and Kyzylvank have
been preserved so far.
armradio.am
05.06.2008 10:56
The Georgian government is set to fund efforts to restore a historical
monastery in the Turkish village of Camlyamac, in the eastern province
of Erzurum, a local official said, Today's Zaman reports.
The Osvank Monastery was constructed between the years 963 and 973
and was dedicated to St. John the Baptist.
The monastery included a church, a refectory and a scriptorium. It
was one of the most important bishoprics in the region and a center
of culture especially famous for its manuscripts. The church is by
far the largest cruciform-shaped church in the region.
It retained its importance until the end of the 15th century.
"In 1985 the Turkish Ministry of Culture designated it as a monument
to be protected and preserved and included it on the national heritage
list. It remains an important destination among Georgian tourists
visiting Turkey," the newspaper says.
"There were no Georgian churches in Western Armenia, specifically
at the time mentioned," director of the Armenian Genocide Institute
Museum Hayk Demoyan commented
"The monastery belonged to Chalcedonic Armenians. The cross on the
temple was a bit different from a Gregorian. Later it was replaced
by an Orthodox one. There is an inscription in Asomtavruli (ancient
Georgian) above one of the ornaments in the Church. That is why
Georgia thinks it's a Georgian temple," Demoyan said.
Erzurum is one of Islamic centers of the Republic of Turkey, where
nothing reminds about the nation which once inhabited this land. Some
10 Armenians temples, including Surb Astvatsatsin and Kyzylvank have
been preserved so far.