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Armenians celebrate rare Mass in Turkey
(AP)
19 Sept 10
AKDAMAR ISLAND, Turkey - Hundreds of Armenian Christians are holding
Mass at an island church in Turkey for the first time since the World
War I killings of Armenians.
Turkey restored the 10th century Akdamar church in Lake Van, eastern
Turkey in 2007 and turned it into a museum. Sunday is the first time
Turkey has allowed worship there in 95 years and the government will
now allow a service to be held there every year. It's a a gesture to
Armenian Christians and to boost reconciliation efforts between Turkey
and Armenia.
The government is seeking to improve the rights of ethnic and
religious minorities in line with its bid to join the European Union.
From: A. Papazian
(AP)
19 Sept 10
AKDAMAR ISLAND, Turkey - Hundreds of Armenian Christians are holding
Mass at an island church in Turkey for the first time since the World
War I killings of Armenians.
Turkey restored the 10th century Akdamar church in Lake Van, eastern
Turkey in 2007 and turned it into a museum. Sunday is the first time
Turkey has allowed worship there in 95 years and the government will
now allow a service to be held there every year. It's a a gesture to
Armenian Christians and to boost reconciliation efforts between Turkey
and Armenia.
The government is seeking to improve the rights of ethnic and
religious minorities in line with its bid to join the European Union.
From: A. Papazian