Tweet
Today's Zaman, Turkey
Sept 9 2012
Armenians hold third religious service at Akdamar church
9 September 2012 / TODAY'S ZAMAN , Ä°STANBUL
Armenians from around the world flocked to the Armenian Church of the
Holy Cross on the island of Akdamar in the eastern province of Van on
Sunday, lighting candles and praying for victims killed by last year's
earthquake in Van and for Syrians killed during clashes in their
country.
Armenian Orthodox Archbishop Aram AteÅ?yan, together with other
religious representatives and almost 2,000 Armenians, arrived at the
Akdamar port in Van's GevaÅ? district in the early hours of Sunday.
Crossing to Akdamar Island on boats, they arrived at the church to
attend the service, which was organized by the Armenian Patriarchate
of Turkey and led by Archbishop Khajag Barsamyan.
During the service, prayers were held, in particular for those killed
by two major earthquakes that occurred in the province in late 2011
and also for Syrians killed during clashes between forces loyal to
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and opposition groups.
The service was attended by AteÅ?yan, the deputy patriarch of the
Armenian Patriarchate based in Ä°stanbul, and many other local and
foreign religious leaders. Van Deputy Governor Atay Uslu, GevaÅ?
District Governor Yusuf Güni, Van Provincial Culture and Tourism
Directorate head Muzaffer AktuÄ?, Van Deputy Mayor Sabri Abi, Peace and
Democracy Party (BDP) Van deputy Nazmi Gür and Armenian politician
Aragats Akhoyan were also in attendance.
Meanwhile, dozens of security units, a 40-person medical unit, a
helicopter and four ambulances were kept ready near the church in case
of any emergency.
After the two-hour service, the attendees left the church and sang
hymns with the Armenians outside the building.
During a performance by folk dance group Agunk, from Armenia, a number
of people unfurled Armenian flags, which led to tension within the
crowd. The flags were then removed.
Hymns and prayers resonated on Akdamar Island in 2010, 95 years after
religious services ceased in the Armenian Church of the Holy Cross,
which occupies a special place in medieval Armenian art and
architecture and is a jewel for Turkey, as indicated by both Turkish
and foreign observers.
Known in English as the Cathedral Church of the Holy Cross, the church
was in ruins and on the verge of collapse. However, by order of Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip ErdoÄ?an, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism
started a restoration project in 2005 to preserve the historical
identity of the church. The church has since become a focus for
domestic and international tourists since being opened as a museum by
the ministry after its restoration was completed in 2007.
The Armenian Church of the Holy Cross was a monastic complex until the
1920s, but fell into deterioration after being abandoned during World
War I. Upon a proposal by the Van Governor's Office and approval by
the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the church started to host annual
religious services in 2010.
Armenians who lived in this province, located on the eastern shore of
Lake Van and in Eastern Anatolia, were deported by the Ottoman forces
in 1915. Armenians say 1.5 million Armenians were killed during a
systematic campaign in Eastern Anatolia, while Turkey strongly rejects
the claims of genocide, saying the killings came as the Ottoman Empire
was trying to quell civil strife and that Muslim Turks were also
killed in the conflict. There are over 60,000 Armenians living in
Turkey, mostly in Ä°stanbul.
http://www.todayszaman.com/news-291807-armenians-hold-third-religious-service-at-akdamar-church.html
Sept 9 2012
Armenians hold third religious service at Akdamar church
9 September 2012 / TODAY'S ZAMAN , Ä°STANBUL
Armenians from around the world flocked to the Armenian Church of the
Holy Cross on the island of Akdamar in the eastern province of Van on
Sunday, lighting candles and praying for victims killed by last year's
earthquake in Van and for Syrians killed during clashes in their
country.
Armenian Orthodox Archbishop Aram AteÅ?yan, together with other
religious representatives and almost 2,000 Armenians, arrived at the
Akdamar port in Van's GevaÅ? district in the early hours of Sunday.
Crossing to Akdamar Island on boats, they arrived at the church to
attend the service, which was organized by the Armenian Patriarchate
of Turkey and led by Archbishop Khajag Barsamyan.
During the service, prayers were held, in particular for those killed
by two major earthquakes that occurred in the province in late 2011
and also for Syrians killed during clashes between forces loyal to
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and opposition groups.
The service was attended by AteÅ?yan, the deputy patriarch of the
Armenian Patriarchate based in Ä°stanbul, and many other local and
foreign religious leaders. Van Deputy Governor Atay Uslu, GevaÅ?
District Governor Yusuf Güni, Van Provincial Culture and Tourism
Directorate head Muzaffer AktuÄ?, Van Deputy Mayor Sabri Abi, Peace and
Democracy Party (BDP) Van deputy Nazmi Gür and Armenian politician
Aragats Akhoyan were also in attendance.
Meanwhile, dozens of security units, a 40-person medical unit, a
helicopter and four ambulances were kept ready near the church in case
of any emergency.
After the two-hour service, the attendees left the church and sang
hymns with the Armenians outside the building.
During a performance by folk dance group Agunk, from Armenia, a number
of people unfurled Armenian flags, which led to tension within the
crowd. The flags were then removed.
Hymns and prayers resonated on Akdamar Island in 2010, 95 years after
religious services ceased in the Armenian Church of the Holy Cross,
which occupies a special place in medieval Armenian art and
architecture and is a jewel for Turkey, as indicated by both Turkish
and foreign observers.
Known in English as the Cathedral Church of the Holy Cross, the church
was in ruins and on the verge of collapse. However, by order of Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip ErdoÄ?an, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism
started a restoration project in 2005 to preserve the historical
identity of the church. The church has since become a focus for
domestic and international tourists since being opened as a museum by
the ministry after its restoration was completed in 2007.
The Armenian Church of the Holy Cross was a monastic complex until the
1920s, but fell into deterioration after being abandoned during World
War I. Upon a proposal by the Van Governor's Office and approval by
the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the church started to host annual
religious services in 2010.
Armenians who lived in this province, located on the eastern shore of
Lake Van and in Eastern Anatolia, were deported by the Ottoman forces
in 1915. Armenians say 1.5 million Armenians were killed during a
systematic campaign in Eastern Anatolia, while Turkey strongly rejects
the claims of genocide, saying the killings came as the Ottoman Empire
was trying to quell civil strife and that Muslim Turks were also
killed in the conflict. There are over 60,000 Armenians living in
Turkey, mostly in Ä°stanbul.
http://www.todayszaman.com/news-291807-armenians-hold-third-religious-service-at-akdamar-church.html