You understand that the site content express the author's views, not necessarily those of the site. Armenian Genocide Resource Center. Email This BlogThis! Share to X Share to Facebook. Rice, Gates urge Congress to drop genocide measure Orthodox patriarch 'confident' Turkey will improve religious freed "Why do we invite Armenians in the first place?
Patriarch: Dink murder still mystery Imagine. Trabzon becomes cynosure of foreign press's eyes Stamp dedicated to the memory of Hrant Dink issued in France 'Why do Dink's mourners ignore Khojaly massacre? But the Akhtamar Church, located on an island in Lake Van in eastern Anatolia, will serve as a monument and museum, despite Armenian demands that it be opened for worship. The spiritual leader of Turkey's Armenian community, Patriarch Mesrob II, called for legal permission for use of the 10th century building for church services, at least one day a year, and for an annual festival on Akdamar Island, where the church is located.
Turkey has no diplomatic ties with Armenia but still invited Armenian officials to the ceremony, and Armenia's Deputy Culture Minister Gagik Gyurjyan, accompanied by a member delegation, including officials, historians and experts, attended the ceremony. In what was seen as an unprecedented outpouring of sympathy, tens of thousands of mourners at his funeral raised banners reading "We are all Armenians. The ceremony was broadcast live on Turkish and Armenian television. Mesrob II expressed gratitude for the restoration of the sandstone structure, saying it looked much better as compared to its pre-restoration situation.
Although the building will now operate as a museum, some of the participants attending the ceremony were seen placing candles inside the church and making the sign of the cross. Earlier this week, the head of the Armenian Orthodox Church, Karekin II, refused to attend the reopening ceremony because the church will operate as a museum, not as a church.
A similar controversy focused on whether a cross would be erected on the steeple of the Akhtamar Church. Earlier this month, Patriarch Mesrob II sent a written request to the Culture Ministry asking that a cross, prepared by the Armenian Patriarchate itself, be placed on the steeple of the church. Gyurjyan, asked why the level of participation from Armenia was low, suggested that it could be due to the discontent over the missing cross. On Wednesday, the Foreign Ministry, which has been asked its opinion on the matter by the Culture Ministry, said Ankara was considering the request.
