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RELIGIOUS CEREMONY HELD AT ARMENIAN CHURCH IN EASTERN TURKEY
Xinhua General News Service
September 11, 2011 Sunday 6:10 AM EST
China
A religious ceremony began at the Akdamar Church on Akdamar island
in Lake Van in eastern Turkey on Sunday morning, the semi-official
Anatolia news agency reported.
The ceremony is led by Turkish Armenian Patriarchate's Archbishop Aram
Atesyan, said the report, adding that the income received from the sale
of candles at the church will be donated to famine stricken Somalia.
The church, built by Architect Bishop Manuel during the years of
915-921 A.D. under the supervision of King Gagik I, has received
more than 30,000 tourists during the first seven months of the year,
Turkish tourism officials were quoted as saying, adding that they
expected the number of tourists visiting the church would reach 60,000
by the end of 2011, when another religious ceremony will be hosted.
The church remained as a part of a monastic complex until the beginning
of the 20th century. It was abandoned during the World War I and left
in a bad condition for many years.
Turkish authorities restored the church during the years of 2005-2007
and opened it as a museum. It hosted a religious ceremony for the
first time after 95 years in September 2010.
Xinhua General News Service
September 11, 2011 Sunday 6:10 AM EST
China
A religious ceremony began at the Akdamar Church on Akdamar island
in Lake Van in eastern Turkey on Sunday morning, the semi-official
Anatolia news agency reported.
The ceremony is led by Turkish Armenian Patriarchate's Archbishop Aram
Atesyan, said the report, adding that the income received from the sale
of candles at the church will be donated to famine stricken Somalia.
The church, built by Architect Bishop Manuel during the years of
915-921 A.D. under the supervision of King Gagik I, has received
more than 30,000 tourists during the first seven months of the year,
Turkish tourism officials were quoted as saying, adding that they
expected the number of tourists visiting the church would reach 60,000
by the end of 2011, when another religious ceremony will be hosted.
The church remained as a part of a monastic complex until the beginning
of the 20th century. It was abandoned during the World War I and left
in a bad condition for many years.
Turkish authorities restored the church during the years of 2005-2007
and opened it as a museum. It hosted a religious ceremony for the
first time after 95 years in September 2010.