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AKDAMAR CHURCH TO GET A CROSS, ARMENIAN DEPUTY PATRIARCH SAYS
Today's Zaman
Sept 8 2010
Turkey
Turkey recently allowed a religious service to be held at the
historic Sumela Monastery for the first time in 88 years. Now the
Armenian church on Akdamar Island will be holding its first religious
ceremony in 100 years. The church currently does not have a cross,
but it will soon get one, Archbishop Aram AteÅ~_yan, deputy patriach
of the Armenians Patriarchate of Turkey, has said.
On Sept.19, Armenian Church members will hold a service at the
Armenian church on Akdamar Island, in Van. However, the Armenian
diaspora has been using the day to fuel another kind of propaganda,
stressing that the church does not have a cross on it because the
Turkish government hasn't given permission for it. They feel that
the cross must be there for a church service to be organized.
AteÅ~_yan however, is confident that there will eventually be a cross
on the church. "The installation of the cross has been postponed for
after the service. They said they couldn't do it due to technical
reasons. My state has promised me that the cross will be put up after
the service. That's assurance enough for me." He said the cross has
already been transported to the island and will be exhibited inside
the church during the ceremony. AteÅ~_yan thought the Van Governor's
Office may have technical difficulties, given that the cross and its
stone base weigh close to 200 kilograms. "So this stone and the cross
have to get there. This is something that might technically take time."
The spiritual leader did not particularly want to comment, but he did
say that he was not without suspicions that the referendum process
might have delayed the installation of the cross. He noted there are
claims that some circles might exploit the pictures of the huge cross
on the church. The service was initially considered for Sept. 12,
the day of the referendum, but was later scheduled for Sept. 19.
Meanwhile, Catholicos Karekin II, the current head of the Holy Armenian
Apostolic Church, has changed his mind about sending a representative
to the service. About 5,000 people were expected to participate,
but now Turkish Armenians say the number will be much lower due to
Karekin II's decision.
From: A. Papazian
Today's Zaman
Sept 8 2010
Turkey
Turkey recently allowed a religious service to be held at the
historic Sumela Monastery for the first time in 88 years. Now the
Armenian church on Akdamar Island will be holding its first religious
ceremony in 100 years. The church currently does not have a cross,
but it will soon get one, Archbishop Aram AteÅ~_yan, deputy patriach
of the Armenians Patriarchate of Turkey, has said.
On Sept.19, Armenian Church members will hold a service at the
Armenian church on Akdamar Island, in Van. However, the Armenian
diaspora has been using the day to fuel another kind of propaganda,
stressing that the church does not have a cross on it because the
Turkish government hasn't given permission for it. They feel that
the cross must be there for a church service to be organized.
AteÅ~_yan however, is confident that there will eventually be a cross
on the church. "The installation of the cross has been postponed for
after the service. They said they couldn't do it due to technical
reasons. My state has promised me that the cross will be put up after
the service. That's assurance enough for me." He said the cross has
already been transported to the island and will be exhibited inside
the church during the ceremony. AteÅ~_yan thought the Van Governor's
Office may have technical difficulties, given that the cross and its
stone base weigh close to 200 kilograms. "So this stone and the cross
have to get there. This is something that might technically take time."
The spiritual leader did not particularly want to comment, but he did
say that he was not without suspicions that the referendum process
might have delayed the installation of the cross. He noted there are
claims that some circles might exploit the pictures of the huge cross
on the church. The service was initially considered for Sept. 12,
the day of the referendum, but was later scheduled for Sept. 19.
Meanwhile, Catholicos Karekin II, the current head of the Holy Armenian
Apostolic Church, has changed his mind about sending a representative
to the service. About 5,000 people were expected to participate,
but now Turkish Armenians say the number will be much lower due to
Karekin II's decision.
From: A. Papazian