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ARMENIAN PUBLIC FIGURES REFUSED TURKISH PRIME MINISTER'S INVITATION TO PARTICIPATE IN LITURGY IN ARMENIAN CHURCH
Interfax
Sept 15 2010
Russia
Yerevan, September 15, Interfax - Some representatives of public,
analytic and journalist circles of Armenia refused the invitation
of Turkey's prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to participate in a
Liturgy at the Armenian church of the Holy Cross in Turkey.
The church located on the island of Akdamar in the Van Province
was restored on the initiative of the Turkish Culture and Tourism
Ministry and opened as a museum in March 2007. Late July 2010, Turkish
authorities permitted to celebrate a Liturgy there once a year. The
first service is to be celebrated on September 19.
One of the invitees political analyst Ovannes Nikogosyan told Interfax
that a final decision to refuse visit to Turkey was taken.
"Such a decision was taken as the Turkish government refused to set up
a cross on the dome of Armenian church. It's impossible to celebrate
a Liturgy in the church without cross. We believe that refusal of
Turkish authorities to set up a cross on the church proves that this
event is just a political performance," Nikogosyan said.
According to him, the other reason is that Turkish authorities refuse
to return the Church of the Holy Cross under jurisdiction of the
Armenian Church.
From: A. Papazian
Interfax
Sept 15 2010
Russia
Yerevan, September 15, Interfax - Some representatives of public,
analytic and journalist circles of Armenia refused the invitation
of Turkey's prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to participate in a
Liturgy at the Armenian church of the Holy Cross in Turkey.
The church located on the island of Akdamar in the Van Province
was restored on the initiative of the Turkish Culture and Tourism
Ministry and opened as a museum in March 2007. Late July 2010, Turkish
authorities permitted to celebrate a Liturgy there once a year. The
first service is to be celebrated on September 19.
One of the invitees political analyst Ovannes Nikogosyan told Interfax
that a final decision to refuse visit to Turkey was taken.
"Such a decision was taken as the Turkish government refused to set up
a cross on the dome of Armenian church. It's impossible to celebrate
a Liturgy in the church without cross. We believe that refusal of
Turkish authorities to set up a cross on the church proves that this
event is just a political performance," Nikogosyan said.
According to him, the other reason is that Turkish authorities refuse
to return the Church of the Holy Cross under jurisdiction of the
Armenian Church.
From: A. Papazian