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EurasiaNet, NY
Sept 19 2010
Thousands Attend Historic Mass at Church in Turkey
September 19, 2010 - 2:46pm, by Yigal Schleifer
For the first time in 95 years, Turkey allows several thousand
Christian worshipers, including many Armenians from abroad, to attend
a historic mass at the 1,089-year-old church on Lake Van's Akdamar
Island in eastern Turkey. Closed since 1915, Holy Cross Church was
restored by the Turkish authorities between 2005 and 2007 and reopened
as a museum.
Archbishop Aram Atesian of the Armenian Patriarchate in Istanbul led
the two-hour mass. With room for only some 50 congregants inside the
church, the mass was broadcast outside on a large television screen.
Several priests came outside at one point to offer the gathered
faithful communion.
Editor's Note: Yigal Schleifer is a freelance reporter and
photojournalist based in Istanbul.
Watch Akhtamar photos at http://www.eurasianet.org/node/61965
From: A. Papazian
Sept 19 2010
Thousands Attend Historic Mass at Church in Turkey
September 19, 2010 - 2:46pm, by Yigal Schleifer
For the first time in 95 years, Turkey allows several thousand
Christian worshipers, including many Armenians from abroad, to attend
a historic mass at the 1,089-year-old church on Lake Van's Akdamar
Island in eastern Turkey. Closed since 1915, Holy Cross Church was
restored by the Turkish authorities between 2005 and 2007 and reopened
as a museum.
Archbishop Aram Atesian of the Armenian Patriarchate in Istanbul led
the two-hour mass. With room for only some 50 congregants inside the
church, the mass was broadcast outside on a large television screen.
Several priests came outside at one point to offer the gathered
faithful communion.
Editor's Note: Yigal Schleifer is a freelance reporter and
photojournalist based in Istanbul.
Watch Akhtamar photos at http://www.eurasianet.org/node/61965
From: A. Papazian