Aysor, Armenia
Sept 19 2010
A liturgy and a protest in Tsitsernakaberd
There is a rally of thousands peoples organized against the Turkish
government's campaign for the Holy Cross Cathedral of Aghtamar island
in Van. The rally is organized in Armenian Genocide Memorial of 1915
in Tsitsernakaberd.
The participants of the demonstration express a complaint against the
"show" initiated by the Turkish government, concentrating the
attention of the international community on the fact that Turkey has
initiated liturgy in the Armenian Church, not allowing the
installation of the cross. According to the participants of the
protest action the Turkish authorities are trying to please the
European countries, showing as if they present a tolerant attitude
towards the national ethnic minorities, but in fact they are trying to
get political dividends.
Akhtamar Holy Cross Church, which was renovated in 2007 and now serves
as a museum, today opens for religious ceremonies, by the initiation
of the Van Governor and Constantinople Patriarchate of Armenian
Apostolic Church. After a long process by the Turkish government's
permission, there will be held an annual religious ceremony in that
Armenian Church.
Previously the Turkish side claimed that a cross will be installed on
church dome, but it broke its promise, stating that the installation
of the cross `can damage the Church cross'.
Regarding the fact that the promise on cross installation was broken
by the Turkish side, the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin which was to
participate in the sacred liturgy with its two representatives has
declined its participation on the liturgy which was to be held in the
Church of the Holy Cross.
From: A. Papazian
Sept 19 2010
A liturgy and a protest in Tsitsernakaberd
There is a rally of thousands peoples organized against the Turkish
government's campaign for the Holy Cross Cathedral of Aghtamar island
in Van. The rally is organized in Armenian Genocide Memorial of 1915
in Tsitsernakaberd.
The participants of the demonstration express a complaint against the
"show" initiated by the Turkish government, concentrating the
attention of the international community on the fact that Turkey has
initiated liturgy in the Armenian Church, not allowing the
installation of the cross. According to the participants of the
protest action the Turkish authorities are trying to please the
European countries, showing as if they present a tolerant attitude
towards the national ethnic minorities, but in fact they are trying to
get political dividends.
Akhtamar Holy Cross Church, which was renovated in 2007 and now serves
as a museum, today opens for religious ceremonies, by the initiation
of the Van Governor and Constantinople Patriarchate of Armenian
Apostolic Church. After a long process by the Turkish government's
permission, there will be held an annual religious ceremony in that
Armenian Church.
Previously the Turkish side claimed that a cross will be installed on
church dome, but it broke its promise, stating that the installation
of the cross `can damage the Church cross'.
Regarding the fact that the promise on cross installation was broken
by the Turkish side, the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin which was to
participate in the sacred liturgy with its two representatives has
declined its participation on the liturgy which was to be held in the
Church of the Holy Cross.
From: A. Papazian