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The Voice of Russia
Sept 19 2010
Armenian church service in Turkey
Over a thousand pilgrims from Armenia have attended a liturgy in a
10th-century Armenian church on Akdamar Island in Lake Van in Turkey.
The congregation was led by Archbishop Aram Ateshyan, the religious
leader of a handful of ethnic Armenians on Turkish territory.
The service was the island's first since 1915, when an estimated 15
hundred thousand Armenians died in a genocide unleashed by the Ottoman
Turks.
In 2009, Turkey and Armenia signed an agreement to establish
diplomatic ties and reopen their common border.
Last April, however, Armenia once again closed the border and
indefinitely suspended action to ratify the agreement with Turkey.
From: A. Papazian
Sept 19 2010
Armenian church service in Turkey
Over a thousand pilgrims from Armenia have attended a liturgy in a
10th-century Armenian church on Akdamar Island in Lake Van in Turkey.
The congregation was led by Archbishop Aram Ateshyan, the religious
leader of a handful of ethnic Armenians on Turkish territory.
The service was the island's first since 1915, when an estimated 15
hundred thousand Armenians died in a genocide unleashed by the Ottoman
Turks.
In 2009, Turkey and Armenia signed an agreement to establish
diplomatic ties and reopen their common border.
Last April, however, Armenia once again closed the border and
indefinitely suspended action to ratify the agreement with Turkey.
From: A. Papazian