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Hundreds gather to help preserve an Armenian church in Turkey
by Taleen Babayan
http://www.reporter.am/go/article/2011-05-22-hundreds-gather-to-help-preserve-an-armenian-church-in-turkey
Published: Sunday May 22, 2011
View of the Hovnanian Armenian School banquet hall.
New Milford, N.J. - Though thousands of miles away from the St.
Giragos Armenian Church in Diyarbakir (Dikranagerd), Turkey, Armenians
from the tri-state area filled the Hovnanian Armenian School Banquet
Hall in New Milford, NJ, to capacity on Saturday evening, May 14 to
learn more about this historic church and raise money for its
renovation project.
The benefit night - under the auspices of His Eminence Archbishop
Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of
America (Eastern) with the participation of His Eminence Archbishop
Aram Atesian, Vicar General of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, and
organized by the St. Giragos Armenian Church Restoration Committee
(Eastern USA) - served as an opportunity to familiarize attendees with
this symbolic church and stress its need for restoration.
After a warm welcome by masters of ceremonies and member of the St.
Giragos Armenian Church Restoration Committee (Eastern USA) Hirant
Gulian, Archbishop Khajag Barsamian delivered inspiring remarks,
emphasizing that historic Armenian churches have to be rebuilt so
Armenian life can continue, citing the recent renovations of the Holy
Cross Armenian Church on the island of Akh'tamar and St. Krikor Church
in Kesaria.
"It is important for us to announce to the world that Armenian
Christians lived on those lands," said the Primate. "And we believe in
the future, Christians can again live on those lands, because those
are Armenian lands."
Well-known journalist and historian Osman Köker -- who travelled from
Istanbul to attend the event -- took the time to present postcard
images of Armenians in Diyarbekir 100 years ago. The vignettes were
part of a collection of postcards included in his book, "Armenians in
Turkey 100 Years Ago," which were on display at an exhibition in
Yerevan in 2009 and are currently on view at the Armenian Library
Museum of America in Watertown, MA.
Also travelling from afar to be present was Vartkes Ergun Ayik, Parish
Council Chairman of St. Giragos Armenian Church. Ayik said the church
was first built in 1518 and had a complete restoration in 1882
following a fire, making it the largest Armenian basilica in Anatolia
to this day. Citing the total construction cost at close to $3 million
dollars, he said half of the construction costs were already raised
but more was needed to reach the fundraising goal. St. Giragos
Armenian Church - the first church in Anatolia to be restored by
Armenians - will remain in possession of the Armenian community, under
the jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Constantinople.
"This is not a project for Dikranagerdtzi Armenians or Armenians in
Turkey," said Ayik, while images of the interior and exterior of the
St. Giragos Armenian Church flashed behind him on a screen. "This is a
project for all Armenians spread all over the world." Following his
remarks, Archbishop Atesian presented Ayik with a golden medal of
Dikran the Great, a gift from the organizing committee in appreciation
of his dedication to the church's reconstruction efforts.
Empowering the audience, His Eminence Archbishop Vicken Aykazian,
Diocesan Legate, who also delivered the evening's invocation, stressed
the importance of raising money to save the St. Giragos Armenian
Church.
"You need to invest in preserving your heritage," said Archbishop
Aykazian. He noted that the money raised will go to restoring the
sacred architecture of the St. Giragos Armenian Church, from the altar
to the baptismal font.
In his remarks, Archbishop Atesian said that there are 70 families in
Dikranagerd who are Armenian and that many more from nearby cities
will benefit from the restoration. He noted that a number of Armenians
in the area are reluctant to openly acknowledge their Christian
identity, but provided hope by saying that with enough guidance and
encouragement, they will embrace their heritage.
"These people need to realize that their fathers and their
grandfathers were Armenian," said Archbishop Atesian. "But they need
priests, someone to help them return to their roots and to their
church."Following a "Dikranagerd" - style dinner, guests enjoyed music
by renowned Armenian singer Onnik Dinkjian and his band.
To learn more about how to contribute towards the reconstruction of
St. Giragos Armenian Church, please call the Diocese of the Armenian
Church of America (Eastern), which is handling all donations, at
212.686.0710.
From: A. Papazian
by Taleen Babayan
http://www.reporter.am/go/article/2011-05-22-hundreds-gather-to-help-preserve-an-armenian-church-in-turkey
Published: Sunday May 22, 2011
View of the Hovnanian Armenian School banquet hall.
New Milford, N.J. - Though thousands of miles away from the St.
Giragos Armenian Church in Diyarbakir (Dikranagerd), Turkey, Armenians
from the tri-state area filled the Hovnanian Armenian School Banquet
Hall in New Milford, NJ, to capacity on Saturday evening, May 14 to
learn more about this historic church and raise money for its
renovation project.
The benefit night - under the auspices of His Eminence Archbishop
Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of
America (Eastern) with the participation of His Eminence Archbishop
Aram Atesian, Vicar General of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, and
organized by the St. Giragos Armenian Church Restoration Committee
(Eastern USA) - served as an opportunity to familiarize attendees with
this symbolic church and stress its need for restoration.
After a warm welcome by masters of ceremonies and member of the St.
Giragos Armenian Church Restoration Committee (Eastern USA) Hirant
Gulian, Archbishop Khajag Barsamian delivered inspiring remarks,
emphasizing that historic Armenian churches have to be rebuilt so
Armenian life can continue, citing the recent renovations of the Holy
Cross Armenian Church on the island of Akh'tamar and St. Krikor Church
in Kesaria.
"It is important for us to announce to the world that Armenian
Christians lived on those lands," said the Primate. "And we believe in
the future, Christians can again live on those lands, because those
are Armenian lands."
Well-known journalist and historian Osman Köker -- who travelled from
Istanbul to attend the event -- took the time to present postcard
images of Armenians in Diyarbekir 100 years ago. The vignettes were
part of a collection of postcards included in his book, "Armenians in
Turkey 100 Years Ago," which were on display at an exhibition in
Yerevan in 2009 and are currently on view at the Armenian Library
Museum of America in Watertown, MA.
Also travelling from afar to be present was Vartkes Ergun Ayik, Parish
Council Chairman of St. Giragos Armenian Church. Ayik said the church
was first built in 1518 and had a complete restoration in 1882
following a fire, making it the largest Armenian basilica in Anatolia
to this day. Citing the total construction cost at close to $3 million
dollars, he said half of the construction costs were already raised
but more was needed to reach the fundraising goal. St. Giragos
Armenian Church - the first church in Anatolia to be restored by
Armenians - will remain in possession of the Armenian community, under
the jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Constantinople.
"This is not a project for Dikranagerdtzi Armenians or Armenians in
Turkey," said Ayik, while images of the interior and exterior of the
St. Giragos Armenian Church flashed behind him on a screen. "This is a
project for all Armenians spread all over the world." Following his
remarks, Archbishop Atesian presented Ayik with a golden medal of
Dikran the Great, a gift from the organizing committee in appreciation
of his dedication to the church's reconstruction efforts.
Empowering the audience, His Eminence Archbishop Vicken Aykazian,
Diocesan Legate, who also delivered the evening's invocation, stressed
the importance of raising money to save the St. Giragos Armenian
Church.
"You need to invest in preserving your heritage," said Archbishop
Aykazian. He noted that the money raised will go to restoring the
sacred architecture of the St. Giragos Armenian Church, from the altar
to the baptismal font.
In his remarks, Archbishop Atesian said that there are 70 families in
Dikranagerd who are Armenian and that many more from nearby cities
will benefit from the restoration. He noted that a number of Armenians
in the area are reluctant to openly acknowledge their Christian
identity, but provided hope by saying that with enough guidance and
encouragement, they will embrace their heritage.
"These people need to realize that their fathers and their
grandfathers were Armenian," said Archbishop Atesian. "But they need
priests, someone to help them return to their roots and to their
church."Following a "Dikranagerd" - style dinner, guests enjoyed music
by renowned Armenian singer Onnik Dinkjian and his band.
To learn more about how to contribute towards the reconstruction of
St. Giragos Armenian Church, please call the Diocese of the Armenian
Church of America (Eastern), which is handling all donations, at
212.686.0710.
From: A. Papazian