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Azad-Hye Editorial: Akhtamar Pilgrimage: to attend or not to attend?
http://www.azad-hye.net/news/viewnews.asp?newsId=734askl67
Following the Armenian Genocide (1915-1923), thousands of Armenian
churches and historical monuments were destroyed in Western Armenia
(now part of Turkey). Many churches were converted into mosques. This
century long policy is well known in the Armenian history as "cultural
genocide", a parallel to the physical genocide. Hundreds of historical
locations were renamed with Turkish names; in order to conceal their
real identities. Even species of animals and plants were deprived from
their Latin scientific names that carried a kind of relationship with
"Armenia" and were replaced with new names.
As the Turkish society embarked into new era of changes, the
authorities in Turkey tried to promote a "zero problem" policy with
the neighbours. The last in these series of reconciliations was the
Armenian nation. Since the historical injustice befallen on this
nation was the worst, reconciliation measures faced big problems,
mostly related to the Turkish taboo of the Armenian Genocide and the
psychology of dealing with former second category citizens. Prime
Minister Erdogan went as far as to conclude that "it's not possible
for a Muslim to commit genocide" and since Turks are Muslims then
there is no genocide!
The new game is to show how tolerant is Turkey towards the Armenians
and other nations. This is staged now in Akhtamar island in Lake Van,
in the vicinity of a place that used to be the heart of Western
Armenia and where until the early years of the 20th century hundreds
of thousands Armenians lived. Akhtamar was the base of a Catholicosate
(church center) that lasted for more than 8 centuries.
Turkey now expects the descendants of these Armenians to come and
attend a holy mass permitted exceptionally to take place there on a
particular date (19 September 2010). There would be no cross, no
whatsoever Armenian signs or symbols. Instead, the worshipers would be
greeted with a big Turkish flag and possibly a huge portrait of
Ataturk. The church has been neglected for decades (it survived total
destruction due to the fact that it is located on an abandoned
island). It was renovated in 2007 and opened as a museum and continues
to be a museum.
How rightful is to make a holy mass in a church that has been
confiscated and turned into a museum? How correct is to perform a
divine liturgy in an altar that would be desecrated after only few
hours of the departure of the worshippers? These are issues that need
to be considered by the Armenians who plan to attend this event.
It is an act of loyalty and national quest to visit Armenian
historical places and show that they are not left alone to their cruel
destiny. We believe, however, that this kind of visits should not be
part of an event organized and orchestrated by the Turkish
authorities, serving dully the political agenda. We prefer Armenian
pilgrims visiting places where other Armenians live, such as Beirut,
Aleppo, Der Zor, Isfahan, Kolkata, Venice, Jerusalem, etc., where they
would be able to partake in Armenian rituals and communicate with the
devoted people who are preserving these places, without being
humiliated or exploited in propaganda games.
Hrach Kalsahakian
Sharjah
www.kalsahakian.com
From: A. Papazian
http://www.azad-hye.net/news/viewnews.asp?newsId=734askl67
Following the Armenian Genocide (1915-1923), thousands of Armenian
churches and historical monuments were destroyed in Western Armenia
(now part of Turkey). Many churches were converted into mosques. This
century long policy is well known in the Armenian history as "cultural
genocide", a parallel to the physical genocide. Hundreds of historical
locations were renamed with Turkish names; in order to conceal their
real identities. Even species of animals and plants were deprived from
their Latin scientific names that carried a kind of relationship with
"Armenia" and were replaced with new names.
As the Turkish society embarked into new era of changes, the
authorities in Turkey tried to promote a "zero problem" policy with
the neighbours. The last in these series of reconciliations was the
Armenian nation. Since the historical injustice befallen on this
nation was the worst, reconciliation measures faced big problems,
mostly related to the Turkish taboo of the Armenian Genocide and the
psychology of dealing with former second category citizens. Prime
Minister Erdogan went as far as to conclude that "it's not possible
for a Muslim to commit genocide" and since Turks are Muslims then
there is no genocide!
The new game is to show how tolerant is Turkey towards the Armenians
and other nations. This is staged now in Akhtamar island in Lake Van,
in the vicinity of a place that used to be the heart of Western
Armenia and where until the early years of the 20th century hundreds
of thousands Armenians lived. Akhtamar was the base of a Catholicosate
(church center) that lasted for more than 8 centuries.
Turkey now expects the descendants of these Armenians to come and
attend a holy mass permitted exceptionally to take place there on a
particular date (19 September 2010). There would be no cross, no
whatsoever Armenian signs or symbols. Instead, the worshipers would be
greeted with a big Turkish flag and possibly a huge portrait of
Ataturk. The church has been neglected for decades (it survived total
destruction due to the fact that it is located on an abandoned
island). It was renovated in 2007 and opened as a museum and continues
to be a museum.
How rightful is to make a holy mass in a church that has been
confiscated and turned into a museum? How correct is to perform a
divine liturgy in an altar that would be desecrated after only few
hours of the departure of the worshippers? These are issues that need
to be considered by the Armenians who plan to attend this event.
It is an act of loyalty and national quest to visit Armenian
historical places and show that they are not left alone to their cruel
destiny. We believe, however, that this kind of visits should not be
part of an event organized and orchestrated by the Turkish
authorities, serving dully the political agenda. We prefer Armenian
pilgrims visiting places where other Armenians live, such as Beirut,
Aleppo, Der Zor, Isfahan, Kolkata, Venice, Jerusalem, etc., where they
would be able to partake in Armenian rituals and communicate with the
devoted people who are preserving these places, without being
humiliated or exploited in propaganda games.
Hrach Kalsahakian
Sharjah
www.kalsahakian.com
From: A. Papazian