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ARMENIAN ST. BARTHOLOMEW MONASTERY AGAIN ACCESSIBLE TO VISITORS
Today's Zaman, Turkey
July 9 2013
9 July 2013 /TODAY'S ZAMAN, Ä°STANBUL
The Armenian St. Bartholomew Monastery, located in the village of
Albayrak in Van province, is once again accessible to visitors.
The monastery had been inaccessible to visitors for many years because
military barracks had been built around it. However, according to a
report by the Radikal daily on Tuesday, the barracks were recently
moved outside the village as part of the settlement process, launched
by the government in October of 2012 to resolve the country's
long-standing Kurdish problem.
The military barracks were moved to another location and as they no
longer encompass the monastery, people can freely visit the site once
again.
The monastery, which was built in the 13th or 14th century and was
renovated circa 1650, 1760 and 1877, is located atop a mountain facing
the Zap Valley in Van's BaÅ~_kale district. Access to the monastery was
forbidden 31 years ago by the Turkish military when the barracks were
built there as a measure against terrorist attacks by the Kurdistan
Workers' Party (PKK). Having fallen into a state of disrepair, the
roof has been completely destroyed, and if the monastery is not
restored soon, the remaining walls risk crumbling. The structure as it
is today has traces of 19th century architectural restoration.
According to Radikal, Van Provincial Directorate of Culture and
Tourism head Muzaffer Aktug has said that the monastery is in poor
condition after not having been restored in decades. He added that the
Culture and Tourism Ministry recently launched a large-scale
restoration project for the monastery and that the directorate is
expending great efforts to restore the province's historical monuments
and open them to tourists.
Today's Zaman, Turkey
July 9 2013
9 July 2013 /TODAY'S ZAMAN, Ä°STANBUL
The Armenian St. Bartholomew Monastery, located in the village of
Albayrak in Van province, is once again accessible to visitors.
The monastery had been inaccessible to visitors for many years because
military barracks had been built around it. However, according to a
report by the Radikal daily on Tuesday, the barracks were recently
moved outside the village as part of the settlement process, launched
by the government in October of 2012 to resolve the country's
long-standing Kurdish problem.
The military barracks were moved to another location and as they no
longer encompass the monastery, people can freely visit the site once
again.
The monastery, which was built in the 13th or 14th century and was
renovated circa 1650, 1760 and 1877, is located atop a mountain facing
the Zap Valley in Van's BaÅ~_kale district. Access to the monastery was
forbidden 31 years ago by the Turkish military when the barracks were
built there as a measure against terrorist attacks by the Kurdistan
Workers' Party (PKK). Having fallen into a state of disrepair, the
roof has been completely destroyed, and if the monastery is not
restored soon, the remaining walls risk crumbling. The structure as it
is today has traces of 19th century architectural restoration.
According to Radikal, Van Provincial Directorate of Culture and
Tourism head Muzaffer Aktug has said that the monastery is in poor
condition after not having been restored in decades. He added that the
Culture and Tourism Ministry recently launched a large-scale
restoration project for the monastery and that the directorate is
expending great efforts to restore the province's historical monuments
and open them to tourists.