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ARMENIAN ST. BARTHOLOMEW MONASTERY IN VAN AGAIN ACCESSIBLE TO VISITORS
15:01 10.07.2013
The Armenian St. Bartholomew Monastery, located in the village of
Albayrak in Van province, is once again accessible to visitors,
Today's Zaman reports.
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 ZapValley in Van's BaĆ~_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 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.
http://www.armradio.am/en/2013/07/10/armenian-st-bartholomew-monastery-in-van-again-accessible-to-visitors/
From: Baghdasarian
15:01 10.07.2013
The Armenian St. Bartholomew Monastery, located in the village of
Albayrak in Van province, is once again accessible to visitors,
Today's Zaman reports.
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 ZapValley in Van's BaĆ~_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 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.
http://www.armradio.am/en/2013/07/10/armenian-st-bartholomew-monastery-in-van-again-accessible-to-visitors/
From: Baghdasarian