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HULIQ.com, SC
July 23 2010
Daily Pilgrimages to Akdamar if Border and Church Opened
Submitted by Armen Hareyan on 2010-07-24
The government of Turkey is set to allow the first church service on
the island of Akdamar after its restoration. The monastery complex is
a 10th century religious icon and expects thousands of Armenians from
Istanbul, diaspora and from Armenia to attend what is expected to be a
once a year service. Yet, one bold and visionary move by Turkey would
make daily pilgrimages possible to Akdamar Armenian church.
Today this church has become a symbol of a struggling reconciliation
process between Armenia and Turkey, which the latter conditions with
Armenia's relations with Azerbaijan. Akdamar is a state museum and as
a gesture the authorities say they will allow a church service on
September 19 of this year.
Yet, allowing services in a church once a year will not help to
improve the relations. In fact, many Armenians have said thanks, but
no thanks. A bolder and more righteous step needs to be done.
If a certain forgetting and forgiving is to take place between the
Armenian and Turkish people for the sake of a better future one of the
most important things that is need is o allow the estranged people to
come closer and to learn about each other. Only then the matters of
justice ad truth will be addressed and only after this a certain
healing type of forgetting and forgiving will take place between the
people. Yet, how can these people learn about each other when the
border is closed by Turkey for no good reason and the average people
don't have an easy access to trade and to learn about each other.
One overlooked factor may come to help. It is the distance between
Yerevan and Van, where the Akdamar monastery is located. The average
distance between Yerevan and Van is only 131 miles or 211 kilometers.
By driving it will take about 3-4 hours depending on the roads and by
flight it will only take about 15-20 minutes.
Turkey, which aspires for EU membership, should act like a European
country and differentiate its relations with Armenia from that of
Azerbaijan. This is especially important now, after yesterday's ICJ
ruling on the legality of Kosovo's independence. In fact, even the top
Turkish newspaper writes that the verdict may help Northern Cyprus to
gain independence. Thus, Turkey should re-orient itself and show
certain appreciation of Armenia's position in regard to the right of
self-determination of the people of Nagorno Karabakh
Now back to the proximity of Yerevan and Van. Two bold steps by the
Turkish government would fundamentally change the future of the entire
region.
1. Return the Church and allow services without restrictions.
2. Open the border with Armenia and don't church for two-day trips.
If Turkey returns Akdamar to the Armenian church and allows full
religious life there the Armenian church would probably send several
monks to restore and reignite the monastic life on the island of
Akdamar. The region itself is already a touristic destination. If he
border is opened it is easily imaginable to see many Armenians taking
few hours of drive to say a prayer in Akdamar and return back home.
Groups of tourists would com every day. Pilgrims would take weekend
trips and stay from Friday to Sunday. It's only 3-4 hours of drive.
This move would reinforce positive signals between the Armenians and
the Turks. People's movement and freedom of worship would change the
economic landscape of the South Eastern Turkey and show hat this is a
European country an there is no difference in overall values between
Turkey and EU countries when it comes to freedom of worship and
movement of people. The distance between Yerevan and Van is only 3-4
hours.
From: A. Papazian
July 23 2010
Daily Pilgrimages to Akdamar if Border and Church Opened
Submitted by Armen Hareyan on 2010-07-24
The government of Turkey is set to allow the first church service on
the island of Akdamar after its restoration. The monastery complex is
a 10th century religious icon and expects thousands of Armenians from
Istanbul, diaspora and from Armenia to attend what is expected to be a
once a year service. Yet, one bold and visionary move by Turkey would
make daily pilgrimages possible to Akdamar Armenian church.
Today this church has become a symbol of a struggling reconciliation
process between Armenia and Turkey, which the latter conditions with
Armenia's relations with Azerbaijan. Akdamar is a state museum and as
a gesture the authorities say they will allow a church service on
September 19 of this year.
Yet, allowing services in a church once a year will not help to
improve the relations. In fact, many Armenians have said thanks, but
no thanks. A bolder and more righteous step needs to be done.
If a certain forgetting and forgiving is to take place between the
Armenian and Turkish people for the sake of a better future one of the
most important things that is need is o allow the estranged people to
come closer and to learn about each other. Only then the matters of
justice ad truth will be addressed and only after this a certain
healing type of forgetting and forgiving will take place between the
people. Yet, how can these people learn about each other when the
border is closed by Turkey for no good reason and the average people
don't have an easy access to trade and to learn about each other.
One overlooked factor may come to help. It is the distance between
Yerevan and Van, where the Akdamar monastery is located. The average
distance between Yerevan and Van is only 131 miles or 211 kilometers.
By driving it will take about 3-4 hours depending on the roads and by
flight it will only take about 15-20 minutes.
Turkey, which aspires for EU membership, should act like a European
country and differentiate its relations with Armenia from that of
Azerbaijan. This is especially important now, after yesterday's ICJ
ruling on the legality of Kosovo's independence. In fact, even the top
Turkish newspaper writes that the verdict may help Northern Cyprus to
gain independence. Thus, Turkey should re-orient itself and show
certain appreciation of Armenia's position in regard to the right of
self-determination of the people of Nagorno Karabakh
Now back to the proximity of Yerevan and Van. Two bold steps by the
Turkish government would fundamentally change the future of the entire
region.
1. Return the Church and allow services without restrictions.
2. Open the border with Armenia and don't church for two-day trips.
If Turkey returns Akdamar to the Armenian church and allows full
religious life there the Armenian church would probably send several
monks to restore and reignite the monastic life on the island of
Akdamar. The region itself is already a touristic destination. If he
border is opened it is easily imaginable to see many Armenians taking
few hours of drive to say a prayer in Akdamar and return back home.
Groups of tourists would com every day. Pilgrims would take weekend
trips and stay from Friday to Sunday. It's only 3-4 hours of drive.
This move would reinforce positive signals between the Armenians and
the Turks. People's movement and freedom of worship would change the
economic landscape of the South Eastern Turkey and show hat this is a
European country an there is no difference in overall values between
Turkey and EU countries when it comes to freedom of worship and
movement of people. The distance between Yerevan and Van is only 3-4
hours.
From: A. Papazian