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ARMENIAN CHURCH IN EASTERN TURKEY BECOMES HAYLOFT AFTER SERVING AS SCHOOL
Hurriyet Daily News, Turkey
March 10 2014
VAN - Cihan News Agency
The church served as a school when there was no school in the area 30
years ago. Now villagers use it as a hayloft and expect officials to
start restoration. DHA Photo
A historical structure in the eastern province of Van, which once was
an Armenian church, has been converted into a hayloft after serving
as a school for some time.
Villagers fill the former church in the Korlu village of the Catak
district, 30 kilometers from Van, with hay, grass, cowpat and wood,
but they have personally appealed to authorities to renovate it.
Considering the villagers' request, Van Culture and Tourism Provincial
Director Muzaffer Aktug said the renovation could be started soon.
The historical church had served as a primary school for five years
when there was no school in the area 30 years ago. Thirty-five students
were taught at the school, before it was abandoned and converted into
a hayloft by villagers.
Villagers have attached a wooden door to the church, some parts
of which are about to collapse, and tried to restore to prevent it
from collapsing.
Tourists had come to the village to look at the church, but it was
mostly neglected.
"For us, the church has a particular value because we graduated from
here when we did not have a school. Now it is used as a hayloft. We
want officials to restore the church and use it for tourism," said
villager Selim Gurban.
Aktug said he would give instructions to the Van Museum Directorate
to learn about the church's situation and whether it was suitable
for restoration.
"Work will start according to the report after it is made by
museum officials. We will discuss the report with the Van Monuments
Directorate and we will renovate it if that is ultimately decided
[by the directorate]," Aktug said.
March/10/2014
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/armenian-church--in-eastern-turkey-becomes-hayloft-after-serving-as-school.aspx?pageID=238&nID=63392&NewsCatID=375
Hurriyet Daily News, Turkey
March 10 2014
VAN - Cihan News Agency
The church served as a school when there was no school in the area 30
years ago. Now villagers use it as a hayloft and expect officials to
start restoration. DHA Photo
A historical structure in the eastern province of Van, which once was
an Armenian church, has been converted into a hayloft after serving
as a school for some time.
Villagers fill the former church in the Korlu village of the Catak
district, 30 kilometers from Van, with hay, grass, cowpat and wood,
but they have personally appealed to authorities to renovate it.
Considering the villagers' request, Van Culture and Tourism Provincial
Director Muzaffer Aktug said the renovation could be started soon.
The historical church had served as a primary school for five years
when there was no school in the area 30 years ago. Thirty-five students
were taught at the school, before it was abandoned and converted into
a hayloft by villagers.
Villagers have attached a wooden door to the church, some parts
of which are about to collapse, and tried to restore to prevent it
from collapsing.
Tourists had come to the village to look at the church, but it was
mostly neglected.
"For us, the church has a particular value because we graduated from
here when we did not have a school. Now it is used as a hayloft. We
want officials to restore the church and use it for tourism," said
villager Selim Gurban.
Aktug said he would give instructions to the Van Museum Directorate
to learn about the church's situation and whether it was suitable
for restoration.
"Work will start according to the report after it is made by
museum officials. We will discuss the report with the Van Monuments
Directorate and we will renovate it if that is ultimately decided
[by the directorate]," Aktug said.
March/10/2014
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/armenian-church--in-eastern-turkey-becomes-hayloft-after-serving-as-school.aspx?pageID=238&nID=63392&NewsCatID=375