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Yerevan to host liturgy and protest action against mass on Akhtamar

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  • Yerevan to host liturgy and protest action against mass on Akhtamar

    Yerevan to host liturgy and protest action against mess in
    unconsecrated church on Akhtamar Island in Turkey


    September 18, 2010 - 16:28 AMT 11:28 GMT
    PanARMENIAN.Net -

    On September 19, a liturgy and protest action against the Turkish
    `show' in Holy Cross Church on Akhtamar Island of Van will be
    organized in Yerevan, near the Armenian Genocide Memorial.

    It was reported earlier that the liturgy will be organized in Van as
    per permission of the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
    However, despite promises, a cross will not be set on the church dome.

    According to Chairman of Van Chamber of Commerce and Industry Zahir
    Kandasoglu, `a cross will definitely be set, but after the liturgy.'
    We would like to note that a mess in an unconsecrated church and
    without a cross on its dome is considered to be a sin in Christianity.

    According to Advisor of the Turkish Ministry of Culture Ismet Yilmaz,
    an Italian specialist rehabilitated the dome of Holy Cross Church so
    that it is impossible to set a cross on it. `A cross was delivered to
    Van to obtain permission for its placement. But it is over 2m-high and
    weighs around 200kg. If it is set, the dome will ruin. We are going to
    invite specialists again to create a possibility cross placement,' he
    said.

    Experts state that Turkey is inventing a range of tricks to prevent
    rehabilitation of a normal Armenian church. According to Director of
    the Institute of Oriental Studies of the RA National Academy of
    Sciences, turkologist Ruben Safrastyan said that the Shariah laws, by
    which the Turkish leadership is unofficially guided, do not allow
    setting a cross on churches.

    The action in Yerevan is initiated by the Armenian Genocide Museum and
    Institute. A PanARMENIAN.Net reporter was told that the liturgy will
    be conducted by a priest of the Armenian Apostolic Church, but the
    Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin has not decided yet who will administer
    the divine service. Representatives of the Armenian traditional
    parties, clergy and public activists will participate in the liturgy
    and protest action.

    The first liturgy in 95 years will be served in Holy Cross Church on
    September 19. Despite promises, Turkish authorities disallowed
    placement of a cross on the dome of the church. The Holy Sees of
    Cilicia and Etchmiadzin, Jerusalem Patriarchy, as well as a number of
    Diaspora organizations refused to participate in the ceremony.

    Only the Armenian community of Istanbul expressed its wish to
    participate in the liturgy in Holy Cross Church on Akhtamar Island.
    And the mass will be held by the coadjutor of Constantinople
    Patriarchate of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Archbishop Aram
    Ateshyan.




    From: A. Papazian
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