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Voice of America
Dec 31 2013
Armenian Church Aims to Heal Past in Kurdish Region of Turkey
Dorian Jones
December 31, 2013
DIYARBAKIR, TURKEY - A recently restored church has become a focal
point for ethnic Armenians seeking to rediscover their cultural
identity and faith in Turkey's predominantly Kurdish southeast. The
region was once home to a large Armenian population. Most perished
during mass expulsions and pogroms during World War I by Turkey's
Ottoman rulers.
The St. Giragos Armenian Orthodox Church is located in the back
streets of Diyarbakır's ancient Sur quarter. It was derelict and
abandoned for decades until restored to its full splendor two years
ago.
Hundreds attended the celebration of the church's saint's day in
September. Even though the church is awaiting an appointment of a
priest, Armin Demirciyan, who looks after the church, claims it has
already become an important symbol of ethnic Armenian identity.
"It means everything to me. It's our history. It's our culture and
it's our legacy,' he said. `It's the gift of our ancestors to us. As
an Armenian I can see myself here. I was raised as a Kurd, I knew
nothing of my Armenian identity.'
Tragic history
Demirciyan's family history is a familiar one. His father was only a
child when his parents were killed in mass pogroms against ethnic
Armenians during World War I, by then-Turkey's Ottoman rulers.
Demirciyan's father, like many other Armenian children, was taken in
by local families, and brought up as a Muslim.
Some ethnic Armenians are now converting to Christianity, like Melike
Gunal, who regularly visits the church. For years, she said she hid
her identity, but that the re-opening of the church helped her to
publicly embrace her identity and faith.
`I come here three or four times a week to light a candle. It's a
Christmas miracle for me to find Christianity and this church,' she
said. `Even before, when there was no roof, I would come here and sit
and cry. But now there is a roof and it's restored; it's so special
for me.'
Gunal's father - a political activist - was killed in the 1990s during
the Turkish state's war against the Kurdish rebel group the PKK. Gunal
said it was that fight by Kurds for greater minority rights, though,
that gave the chance for Armenians to assert their identity
"It all came out with the Kurdish struggle for there identify, that
opened the door to us," she said. "How could they deny our identity
when fighting for theirs? Before we could only utter our grandparent's
Armenian names at home, from a very early age we understood to hide
our identity."
The local mayor, Abdullah Demirtas of the pro-Kurdish BDP, contributed
$600,000 of municipal funds to the church's restoration. He said it
was part of a policy of encouraging diversity.
`In past years, the state wanted to turn this region, this area, into
a single Turkish Muslim identity, by not only suppressing Kurds, but
all these communities, all these religions and languages,' he said.
`We want to show this diversity can live together.'
Symbol of ethnic heritage
But St. Giragos church, as a symbol of the region's ethnic Armenian
heritage, raises difficult questions for Kurds. That's because some
Kurds then played a prominent role in the killings of Armenians.
Armenia says 1.5 million Armenians were killed during World War I by
troops of Turkey's Ottoman Empire. Turkey says Armenians were killed
as part of a civil war and maintains the death toll is exaggerated. It
says the deaths do not constitute genocide.
At St. Giragos there is a small photo exhibition recording the once
vibrant Armenian community. It includes family portraits and photos of
people drinking wine and smoking water pipes. A group of Kurdish and
ethnic Armenian teenagers is looking at the images, aware most of
those pictured probably perished in a mass killing.
For Baran Dogan, a Kurd, the church is a place to face up to the past.
`We are very much aware what happened to the Armenians by Kurds under
the order of the Ottoman state,' he said. `I did not know my close
friend was Armenian, and he did not know either until recently. When I
come to this church I feel it as a small apology, although it never
can compensate for what they've been through.'
By 2015, a full time priest will be appointed to St. Giragos. That's
another small step in helping to re-establish the city's once diverse
society.
http://www.voanews.com/content/armenian-church-aims-to-heal-past-in-kurdish-region-of-turkey/1820809.html
Dec 31 2013
Armenian Church Aims to Heal Past in Kurdish Region of Turkey
Dorian Jones
December 31, 2013
DIYARBAKIR, TURKEY - A recently restored church has become a focal
point for ethnic Armenians seeking to rediscover their cultural
identity and faith in Turkey's predominantly Kurdish southeast. The
region was once home to a large Armenian population. Most perished
during mass expulsions and pogroms during World War I by Turkey's
Ottoman rulers.
The St. Giragos Armenian Orthodox Church is located in the back
streets of Diyarbakır's ancient Sur quarter. It was derelict and
abandoned for decades until restored to its full splendor two years
ago.
Hundreds attended the celebration of the church's saint's day in
September. Even though the church is awaiting an appointment of a
priest, Armin Demirciyan, who looks after the church, claims it has
already become an important symbol of ethnic Armenian identity.
"It means everything to me. It's our history. It's our culture and
it's our legacy,' he said. `It's the gift of our ancestors to us. As
an Armenian I can see myself here. I was raised as a Kurd, I knew
nothing of my Armenian identity.'
Tragic history
Demirciyan's family history is a familiar one. His father was only a
child when his parents were killed in mass pogroms against ethnic
Armenians during World War I, by then-Turkey's Ottoman rulers.
Demirciyan's father, like many other Armenian children, was taken in
by local families, and brought up as a Muslim.
Some ethnic Armenians are now converting to Christianity, like Melike
Gunal, who regularly visits the church. For years, she said she hid
her identity, but that the re-opening of the church helped her to
publicly embrace her identity and faith.
`I come here three or four times a week to light a candle. It's a
Christmas miracle for me to find Christianity and this church,' she
said. `Even before, when there was no roof, I would come here and sit
and cry. But now there is a roof and it's restored; it's so special
for me.'
Gunal's father - a political activist - was killed in the 1990s during
the Turkish state's war against the Kurdish rebel group the PKK. Gunal
said it was that fight by Kurds for greater minority rights, though,
that gave the chance for Armenians to assert their identity
"It all came out with the Kurdish struggle for there identify, that
opened the door to us," she said. "How could they deny our identity
when fighting for theirs? Before we could only utter our grandparent's
Armenian names at home, from a very early age we understood to hide
our identity."
The local mayor, Abdullah Demirtas of the pro-Kurdish BDP, contributed
$600,000 of municipal funds to the church's restoration. He said it
was part of a policy of encouraging diversity.
`In past years, the state wanted to turn this region, this area, into
a single Turkish Muslim identity, by not only suppressing Kurds, but
all these communities, all these religions and languages,' he said.
`We want to show this diversity can live together.'
Symbol of ethnic heritage
But St. Giragos church, as a symbol of the region's ethnic Armenian
heritage, raises difficult questions for Kurds. That's because some
Kurds then played a prominent role in the killings of Armenians.
Armenia says 1.5 million Armenians were killed during World War I by
troops of Turkey's Ottoman Empire. Turkey says Armenians were killed
as part of a civil war and maintains the death toll is exaggerated. It
says the deaths do not constitute genocide.
At St. Giragos there is a small photo exhibition recording the once
vibrant Armenian community. It includes family portraits and photos of
people drinking wine and smoking water pipes. A group of Kurdish and
ethnic Armenian teenagers is looking at the images, aware most of
those pictured probably perished in a mass killing.
For Baran Dogan, a Kurd, the church is a place to face up to the past.
`We are very much aware what happened to the Armenians by Kurds under
the order of the Ottoman state,' he said. `I did not know my close
friend was Armenian, and he did not know either until recently. When I
come to this church I feel it as a small apology, although it never
can compensate for what they've been through.'
By 2015, a full time priest will be appointed to St. Giragos. That's
another small step in helping to re-establish the city's once diverse
society.
http://www.voanews.com/content/armenian-church-aims-to-heal-past-in-kurdish-region-of-turkey/1820809.html