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SERVICE HELD AT SURP GIRAGOS ARMENIAN CHURCH IN TURKEY
PanARMENIAN.Net
June 20, 2011 - 14:01 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - Diaspora Armenians and clergy held a small service
in Turkish Diyarbak覺r's local church on Saturday, June 18, in what
many hope is a harbinger for a more multicultural future in the
southeastern city, Hurriyet Daily News reports.
"The sounds of the call to prayer and church bells will mix here on
this land from now on," Diyarbak覺r Mayor Osman Baydemir said following
the service at the restored Surp Giragos Church. "There were major
sorrows experienced in the past. We [condemn] the heartlessness of
those days in our hearts and we want a new start."
"Diyarbak覺r was a multicultural city in the past but we lost a lot
with the 'monist' policy with the [Turkish] Republic. To be able
to resurrect social peace, lessons should be learned from the past
and history needs to be encountered," Diyarbak覺r Sur Mayor Abdullah
Demirba癬_ said, adding that he was very pleased to be able to host
the guests.
Surp Giragos' restoration was widely supported by Istanbul Armenians,
although the Turkish Culture Ministry, Diyarbak覺r's Sur Municipality
and Diaspora Armenians also contributed to refurbishing the church.
Archbishop and Deputy Patriarch Aram Ate癬_yan said, "It is a start
that Diyarbak覺r Armenians come and visit the land they have been
born. We hope it [this trend] continues."
Defined as the largest church in the Middle East by some experts,
the historic Surp Giragos Church will host a more grandiose service
in October. Along with the representatives of Armenian Apostolic
Churches from all around the world, representatives of sister churches
and leading names from the Diaspora are expected to form part of the
large congregation.
The total cost of the restoration is around $2.5 million; once the
church is open for services its annex buildings will host several
cultural and arts projects.
PanARMENIAN.Net
June 20, 2011 - 14:01 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - Diaspora Armenians and clergy held a small service
in Turkish Diyarbak覺r's local church on Saturday, June 18, in what
many hope is a harbinger for a more multicultural future in the
southeastern city, Hurriyet Daily News reports.
"The sounds of the call to prayer and church bells will mix here on
this land from now on," Diyarbak覺r Mayor Osman Baydemir said following
the service at the restored Surp Giragos Church. "There were major
sorrows experienced in the past. We [condemn] the heartlessness of
those days in our hearts and we want a new start."
"Diyarbak覺r was a multicultural city in the past but we lost a lot
with the 'monist' policy with the [Turkish] Republic. To be able
to resurrect social peace, lessons should be learned from the past
and history needs to be encountered," Diyarbak覺r Sur Mayor Abdullah
Demirba癬_ said, adding that he was very pleased to be able to host
the guests.
Surp Giragos' restoration was widely supported by Istanbul Armenians,
although the Turkish Culture Ministry, Diyarbak覺r's Sur Municipality
and Diaspora Armenians also contributed to refurbishing the church.
Archbishop and Deputy Patriarch Aram Ate癬_yan said, "It is a start
that Diyarbak覺r Armenians come and visit the land they have been
born. We hope it [this trend] continues."
Defined as the largest church in the Middle East by some experts,
the historic Surp Giragos Church will host a more grandiose service
in October. Along with the representatives of Armenian Apostolic
Churches from all around the world, representatives of sister churches
and leading names from the Diaspora are expected to form part of the
large congregation.
The total cost of the restoration is around $2.5 million; once the
church is open for services its annex buildings will host several
cultural and arts projects.