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ERECTION OF CROSS ON AKDAMAR ARMENIAN CHURCH PARTIALLY SOLVED
Today's Zaman
Sept 16 2010
Turkey
Difficulties over the erection of a 100-kilogram cross on the Cathedral
of the Holy Cross on Akdamar Island in Lake Van have been partially
solved as the cross was temporarily placed on a wooden base.
The Turkish government agreed to open the 1,100-year-old Cathedral
of the Holy Cross for a one-day religious service on Sept. 19, an
event that is to become an annual occurrence.
Many believe a religious service at the historic church, which is now
a state museum, could be a symbol of reconciliation between Turkey
and Armenia, two neighbors bitterly divided over history and the fate
of the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region.
Turkish-Armenians had welcomed the move and Karekin II, the Catholicos
of All Armenians, had agreed to send two senior clerics to the church
for the service. However, a decision to not send the clerics was made
after a controversy erupted over whether a cross would be erected on
the steeple of the church for the service.
Officials say there were difficulties in erecting the cross on the
steeple in time for the historic service. This has led to a temporary
solution. Clergymen from the Armenian Patriarchate from İstanbul
are to decide where to temporarily display the cross, in or outside
the church, until it is erected on the church after the service when
preparations are complete.
From: A. Papazian
Today's Zaman
Sept 16 2010
Turkey
Difficulties over the erection of a 100-kilogram cross on the Cathedral
of the Holy Cross on Akdamar Island in Lake Van have been partially
solved as the cross was temporarily placed on a wooden base.
The Turkish government agreed to open the 1,100-year-old Cathedral
of the Holy Cross for a one-day religious service on Sept. 19, an
event that is to become an annual occurrence.
Many believe a religious service at the historic church, which is now
a state museum, could be a symbol of reconciliation between Turkey
and Armenia, two neighbors bitterly divided over history and the fate
of the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region.
Turkish-Armenians had welcomed the move and Karekin II, the Catholicos
of All Armenians, had agreed to send two senior clerics to the church
for the service. However, a decision to not send the clerics was made
after a controversy erupted over whether a cross would be erected on
the steeple of the church for the service.
Officials say there were difficulties in erecting the cross on the
steeple in time for the historic service. This has led to a temporary
solution. Clergymen from the Armenian Patriarchate from İstanbul
are to decide where to temporarily display the cross, in or outside
the church, until it is erected on the church after the service when
preparations are complete.
From: A. Papazian