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THE ARMENIAN CHURCH SAYS IT WON'T TAKE PART IN AKDAMAR SERVICE
Today's Zaman
Sept 7 2010
Turkey
The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin has reneged on its previous decision
to send at least two of its senior clerics to an upcoming service at
a renovated Armenian church in eastern Turkey on Sept. 19 in protest
of a decision to postpone the placing of a cross atop the church.
The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, which is considered to be the
headquarters of the Armenian Apostolic Church, said on Saturday that
it would not take part in the service, Armenian news outlets reported.
Karekin II, the Catholicos of All Armenians, in August agreed to send
two senior clerics to the church for the service.
The Turkish government agreed to open the 1,100-year-old Cathedral
of the Holy Cross on Akdamar, an island in Lake Van, for a one-day
religious service on Sept. 19 -- an event that could become an annual
occurrence.
"The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin learned with regret and
disappointment that the placing of the cross on top of the dome of
the Church of the Holy Cross at Akdamar is being postponed by the
Turkish authorities without cause," the statement released by the
Etchmiadzin said.
Armenian President Serzh Sarksyan's ruling Republican Party of
Armenia's spokesman, Eduard Sharmazanov, denounced in early August
the Turkish government's decision to reopen the church for a one-day
religious ceremony as a publicity stunt and "provocation" aimed at
misleading the international community.
But a spokesman for Karekin II rejected the boycott calls. "We
believe that if we are given an opportunity to cherish a shrine that
has functioned for centuries but is devoid of prayer today for some
reason, we must use that single day in order to assert our rights
and ownership to the shrine through our participation," Father Vahram
Melikian told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL).
The Etchmiadzin said in a statement that it was suspending its
representatives participation in the celebration of the service at
the Akdamar Church.
The service is to be officiated by Archbishop Aram Ateshyan, who
currently leads the Armenian Patriarchate of İstanbul. The church
was opened in 2007 following a restoration project by the Turkish
government which cost $1.7 million.
Ateshyan announced last week that he had met with the governor of Van,
Munir Karaloglu, who said the cross weighs 200 kilograms and it would
probably be impossible to have it in place in time for the service.
However, the cross would be exhibited for visitors on the same day,
Karaloglu said.
From: A. Papazian
Today's Zaman
Sept 7 2010
Turkey
The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin has reneged on its previous decision
to send at least two of its senior clerics to an upcoming service at
a renovated Armenian church in eastern Turkey on Sept. 19 in protest
of a decision to postpone the placing of a cross atop the church.
The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, which is considered to be the
headquarters of the Armenian Apostolic Church, said on Saturday that
it would not take part in the service, Armenian news outlets reported.
Karekin II, the Catholicos of All Armenians, in August agreed to send
two senior clerics to the church for the service.
The Turkish government agreed to open the 1,100-year-old Cathedral
of the Holy Cross on Akdamar, an island in Lake Van, for a one-day
religious service on Sept. 19 -- an event that could become an annual
occurrence.
"The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin learned with regret and
disappointment that the placing of the cross on top of the dome of
the Church of the Holy Cross at Akdamar is being postponed by the
Turkish authorities without cause," the statement released by the
Etchmiadzin said.
Armenian President Serzh Sarksyan's ruling Republican Party of
Armenia's spokesman, Eduard Sharmazanov, denounced in early August
the Turkish government's decision to reopen the church for a one-day
religious ceremony as a publicity stunt and "provocation" aimed at
misleading the international community.
But a spokesman for Karekin II rejected the boycott calls. "We
believe that if we are given an opportunity to cherish a shrine that
has functioned for centuries but is devoid of prayer today for some
reason, we must use that single day in order to assert our rights
and ownership to the shrine through our participation," Father Vahram
Melikian told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL).
The Etchmiadzin said in a statement that it was suspending its
representatives participation in the celebration of the service at
the Akdamar Church.
The service is to be officiated by Archbishop Aram Ateshyan, who
currently leads the Armenian Patriarchate of İstanbul. The church
was opened in 2007 following a restoration project by the Turkish
government which cost $1.7 million.
Ateshyan announced last week that he had met with the governor of Van,
Munir Karaloglu, who said the cross weighs 200 kilograms and it would
probably be impossible to have it in place in time for the service.
However, the cross would be exhibited for visitors on the same day,
Karaloglu said.
From: A. Papazian