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Monsters and Critics.com
Sept 19 2010
Thousands attend historic mass in former Armenian church in Turkey
Sep 19, 2010, 15:03 GMT
Van, Turkey - The first mass in some 95 years was held Sunday in a
recently restored Armenian church in eastern Turkey.
The two neighbouring countries have been at loggerheads for nearly a
century over Turkey's alleged genocide of Armenians under Ottoman rule
during the First World War.
The church, located on Akdamar island in Turkey's Lake Van, is
considered a museum but officials opened it up for religious services
for one day.
The two-hour mass was led by Archbishop Aram Atesyan of the Armenian
Patriarchate of Turkey. The ancient church can only fit some 50 people
inside, but officials estimated that some 4,000 people came to the
island to hear the mass, which was broadcast on large screen
televisions outside.
'This church, which is a valuable piece of art, is a cultural monument
that belongs to the whole humanity. On this occasion, we would like to
express our thanks to the state and government of Republic of Turkey
for restoring and protecting this building,' Atesyan said in a speech
made during the service.
The church was built some one thousand years before when the Van area
was ruled by an Armenian king. It was in use by the local Armenian
community until 1915, when the region's Armenians were forcibly
expelled by the Ottomans.
The Turkish authorities restored it between 2005 and 2007.
The event drew large of groups of Armenians from abroad, many who had
never been back to visit the land of their grandparents before.
'I never imagined I would be attending a service here,' Harry
Parsekian, an Armenian living in Boston whose parents were born in
Turkey, told German Press Agency dpa. 'It's very significant.'
The event was not without controversy, though. Although a large metal
church had been donated to the Patriarchate in Istanbul to be placed
on the church's roof, officials balked at doing so, claiming it was
too heavy.
Several groups as well as religious officials from Armenian ended up
canceling their visit.
From: A. Papazian
Sept 19 2010
Thousands attend historic mass in former Armenian church in Turkey
Sep 19, 2010, 15:03 GMT
Van, Turkey - The first mass in some 95 years was held Sunday in a
recently restored Armenian church in eastern Turkey.
The two neighbouring countries have been at loggerheads for nearly a
century over Turkey's alleged genocide of Armenians under Ottoman rule
during the First World War.
The church, located on Akdamar island in Turkey's Lake Van, is
considered a museum but officials opened it up for religious services
for one day.
The two-hour mass was led by Archbishop Aram Atesyan of the Armenian
Patriarchate of Turkey. The ancient church can only fit some 50 people
inside, but officials estimated that some 4,000 people came to the
island to hear the mass, which was broadcast on large screen
televisions outside.
'This church, which is a valuable piece of art, is a cultural monument
that belongs to the whole humanity. On this occasion, we would like to
express our thanks to the state and government of Republic of Turkey
for restoring and protecting this building,' Atesyan said in a speech
made during the service.
The church was built some one thousand years before when the Van area
was ruled by an Armenian king. It was in use by the local Armenian
community until 1915, when the region's Armenians were forcibly
expelled by the Ottomans.
The Turkish authorities restored it between 2005 and 2007.
The event drew large of groups of Armenians from abroad, many who had
never been back to visit the land of their grandparents before.
'I never imagined I would be attending a service here,' Harry
Parsekian, an Armenian living in Boston whose parents were born in
Turkey, told German Press Agency dpa. 'It's very significant.'
The event was not without controversy, though. Although a large metal
church had been donated to the Patriarchate in Istanbul to be placed
on the church's roof, officials balked at doing so, claiming it was
too heavy.
Several groups as well as religious officials from Armenian ended up
canceling their visit.
From: A. Papazian