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news.am, Armenia
Sept 19 2010
Turkish expert: The cross should have been erected right after the
reconstruction
September 19, 2010 | 19:32
Armenia and Turkey have politicized the issue of erecting the cross on
the Surb Khach Church, says the architect and restoration expert
Mildanoglu Zakaria, who took part in the reconstruction of the
historic church on the island of Akhtamar. Nnevertheless, the
authorization of a religious service is a huge breakthrough, stated
Mildanoglu in an interview with the Turkish edition of H?Ã?¼rriyet Daily
News & Economic Review.
He also noted that the debate about the issue of the cross should not
detract from the rare religious service in the church. ?«I have always
said that the cross should not be used in politics. The cross should
have been erected on the dome after the reconstruction, but this issue
has been so politicized by both sides, it has resulted in disputes?», -
said the Turk sadly.
It is worth mentioning that a group of Armenians raised wooden crosses
during the liturgy in protest to this fact.
The September 19 liturgy in the Surb Khach Church is the first in 100
years, but only the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople is
participating in the liturgy. The other three representatives of
Armenian Holy Church; The Holy See of Echmiadzin, the Armenian
Patriarchate of Jerusalem and the Holy See of Cilicia, refused to take
part in the liturgy. Many Armenian public figures turned down their
personal invitations from theTurkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdo?Ä?an as well.
The Surb Khach (Holy Cross) church of Akhtamar can not be considered
to have been fully restored until a cross is erected on the dome
stated various public figures.
From: A. Papazian
Sept 19 2010
Turkish expert: The cross should have been erected right after the
reconstruction
September 19, 2010 | 19:32
Armenia and Turkey have politicized the issue of erecting the cross on
the Surb Khach Church, says the architect and restoration expert
Mildanoglu Zakaria, who took part in the reconstruction of the
historic church on the island of Akhtamar. Nnevertheless, the
authorization of a religious service is a huge breakthrough, stated
Mildanoglu in an interview with the Turkish edition of H?Ã?¼rriyet Daily
News & Economic Review.
He also noted that the debate about the issue of the cross should not
detract from the rare religious service in the church. ?«I have always
said that the cross should not be used in politics. The cross should
have been erected on the dome after the reconstruction, but this issue
has been so politicized by both sides, it has resulted in disputes?», -
said the Turk sadly.
It is worth mentioning that a group of Armenians raised wooden crosses
during the liturgy in protest to this fact.
The September 19 liturgy in the Surb Khach Church is the first in 100
years, but only the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople is
participating in the liturgy. The other three representatives of
Armenian Holy Church; The Holy See of Echmiadzin, the Armenian
Patriarchate of Jerusalem and the Holy See of Cilicia, refused to take
part in the liturgy. Many Armenian public figures turned down their
personal invitations from theTurkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdo?Ä?an as well.
The Surb Khach (Holy Cross) church of Akhtamar can not be considered
to have been fully restored until a cross is erected on the dome
stated various public figures.
From: A. Papazian