Tweet
ARCHBISHOP ARAM ATESHYAN TOLD ABOUT CONCEALED ARMENIANS IN TURKEY
11:07, 30 April, 2013
YEREVAN, APRIL 30, ARMENPRESS: The General Vicar of the Armenian
Patriarchate of Constantinople, Archbishop Aram Ateshyan gave an
interview to the Turkish Bugun TV channel, where he told about the
concealed Armenians living in Turkey, the number of which makes about
a million. As reported by Armenpress, the Archbishop Aram Ateshyan
stated that those people were made to conceal their nation and become
Muslims during the World War I, because of the well-known events,
occurred to Armenians in the Ottoman Turkey.
"There are about a hundred thousand people in the present generation
in Turkey, whose parents are Armenians and they are Muslims. They talk
Armenian and wear a cross secretly. I cleared it out due to my
personal contacts. They do not want to attend church, as it will
reveal their identity. The liturgy held in the Saint Kirakos Church in
Diyarbakir was attended by more than 400 people, half of which having
Armenian roots. My family as well lives in Diyarbakir as Muslims. The
sons of my elder sister also live in Diyarbakir. They accepted Islam
under pressure in 1950.
My son-in-law was told if he does not accept Islam, he will be killed.
I was born in 1954. When I was 4-5, my sister became a Muslim. Their
children became Muslims as well. My sister wore her cross secretly and
spoke Armenian. I lost them, as they did not attend our church and I
could not christen them. Many of the concealed Armenians told about
their being Armenians only before the death.
A 30-year-old man came to me and asked to christen him. I told him to
prove his being Armenian and he could not. Then his father called me
and asked to accept his son. He said that he worked in the
municipality and when he retires, he will return to his roots.
According to his son, 90% of the population of Tunceli are Armenians
and now he is a member of our church", - told the General Vicar of the
Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople, Archbishop Aram Ateshyan.
11:07, 30 April, 2013
YEREVAN, APRIL 30, ARMENPRESS: The General Vicar of the Armenian
Patriarchate of Constantinople, Archbishop Aram Ateshyan gave an
interview to the Turkish Bugun TV channel, where he told about the
concealed Armenians living in Turkey, the number of which makes about
a million. As reported by Armenpress, the Archbishop Aram Ateshyan
stated that those people were made to conceal their nation and become
Muslims during the World War I, because of the well-known events,
occurred to Armenians in the Ottoman Turkey.
"There are about a hundred thousand people in the present generation
in Turkey, whose parents are Armenians and they are Muslims. They talk
Armenian and wear a cross secretly. I cleared it out due to my
personal contacts. They do not want to attend church, as it will
reveal their identity. The liturgy held in the Saint Kirakos Church in
Diyarbakir was attended by more than 400 people, half of which having
Armenian roots. My family as well lives in Diyarbakir as Muslims. The
sons of my elder sister also live in Diyarbakir. They accepted Islam
under pressure in 1950.
My son-in-law was told if he does not accept Islam, he will be killed.
I was born in 1954. When I was 4-5, my sister became a Muslim. Their
children became Muslims as well. My sister wore her cross secretly and
spoke Armenian. I lost them, as they did not attend our church and I
could not christen them. Many of the concealed Armenians told about
their being Armenians only before the death.
A 30-year-old man came to me and asked to christen him. I told him to
prove his being Armenian and he could not. Then his father called me
and asked to accept his son. He said that he worked in the
municipality and when he retires, he will return to his roots.
According to his son, 90% of the population of Tunceli are Armenians
and now he is a member of our church", - told the General Vicar of the
Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople, Archbishop Aram Ateshyan.