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Hurriyet Daily News, Turkey
Sept 7 2014
Armenian church on Akdamar Island hosts fifth service
VAN
The fifth annual Divine Liturgy on the Akdamar Island's famous
10th-century church was held on Sept. 7, with the participation of
Christians from Turkey and around the world.
The church was reopened to occasional prayers in 2010 after a hiatus
of nearly 100 years.
Turkish authorities restored the church on Lake Van between 2005 and
2007 before opening it as a museum. The Divine Liturgy was celebrated
there for the first time in 95 years in 2010.
The Divine Liturgy was held at the historic Surp Haç (Holy Cross)
Church with the acting head of the Armenian Patriarchate in Turkey,
Aram Ateþyan.
This year, Fener Greek Patriarch Bartholomew and the spiritual leader
of Turkey's Syriac community, Yusuf Çetin, also participated in the
service for the first time.
Ateþyan said this year they prayed for those who lost their lives in
wars, especially in the Middle East.
"Our message is about peace in the country and in the world," he said.
"We pray for the salvation of the souls of those who lost their lives
in the wars in Syria, Iraq and Gaza. We will beg to God for people
living together, regardless of religion, race or sects. Unfortunately
people are being killed in the name of religions and sects. I think
that does not suit well to any of the religions," he added.
Gevaþ Mayor Sinan Hakan hosted a "Peace Lunch" in the center of the
district after the service.
"Gevaþ is a significant center for Christianity and Islam. As locals
of Gevaþ, we want our guests to feel at home while they are here as
part of the ceremony. They are not strangers to us. There was a
tradition of living together with them for thousands of years. We want
to revitalize that here on the day," said Hakan.
September/07/2014
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/armenian-church-on-akdamar-island-hosts-fifth-service.aspx?pageID=238&nID=71416&NewsCatID=393
Sept 7 2014
Armenian church on Akdamar Island hosts fifth service
VAN
The fifth annual Divine Liturgy on the Akdamar Island's famous
10th-century church was held on Sept. 7, with the participation of
Christians from Turkey and around the world.
The church was reopened to occasional prayers in 2010 after a hiatus
of nearly 100 years.
Turkish authorities restored the church on Lake Van between 2005 and
2007 before opening it as a museum. The Divine Liturgy was celebrated
there for the first time in 95 years in 2010.
The Divine Liturgy was held at the historic Surp Haç (Holy Cross)
Church with the acting head of the Armenian Patriarchate in Turkey,
Aram Ateþyan.
This year, Fener Greek Patriarch Bartholomew and the spiritual leader
of Turkey's Syriac community, Yusuf Çetin, also participated in the
service for the first time.
Ateþyan said this year they prayed for those who lost their lives in
wars, especially in the Middle East.
"Our message is about peace in the country and in the world," he said.
"We pray for the salvation of the souls of those who lost their lives
in the wars in Syria, Iraq and Gaza. We will beg to God for people
living together, regardless of religion, race or sects. Unfortunately
people are being killed in the name of religions and sects. I think
that does not suit well to any of the religions," he added.
Gevaþ Mayor Sinan Hakan hosted a "Peace Lunch" in the center of the
district after the service.
"Gevaþ is a significant center for Christianity and Islam. As locals
of Gevaþ, we want our guests to feel at home while they are here as
part of the ceremony. They are not strangers to us. There was a
tradition of living together with them for thousands of years. We want
to revitalize that here on the day," said Hakan.
September/07/2014
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/armenian-church-on-akdamar-island-hosts-fifth-service.aspx?pageID=238&nID=71416&NewsCatID=393