Turkey massacred entire christian Armenian now Armenian church’s turned into parking lot

January 9, 2017 By administrator

A dilapidated Armenian church in the Turkish city of Elazig (historic Kharberd) has been turned into a parking lot, Ermenihaber.am reports.

The walls of the Armenian Protestant church , which served as a place of worship for the Armenian and Assyrian communities alike, is now loaded with advertizing boards, installed by the managers of the parking lot.

The church has previously been used as a flour milling factory and a shopping center.

According to a local resident, this is not the first Christian monument to suffer such a fate.

Church without People Turkish imam takes care of abandoned Armenian church after Genocide

October 18, 2016 By administrator

imam-and-church A local mosque imam is taking care of the Armenian church in Sarıkaya town of Turkey’s Yozgat Province.

Once the Armenians in the area had deported and massacred, this historical Armenian church was abandoned. But now, Metin Halıcı, the imam of the local mosque, has started taking care of this church, according to Dünya Bülteni (World Bulletin) news portal of Turkey.

The imam noted that when he was appointed for spiritual service in Sarıkaya, he was very surprised to see this abandoned Armenian church. He said he began to care for and clean this house of Christian worship, with pleasure.

“We keep the church so clean that Armenians can come and say their prayers [here] at any time,” said the imam. “My wife and children help me take care of the church.”

In Halıcı’s words, the Armenians visiting this church are satisfied with its state, and they thank him.

ARMENIAN CHURCH Easter Mass in St. Echmiadzin yesterday

March 28, 2016 By administrator

27-8-620x300-480x233-480x233 Yesterday Sunday, March 27, the Easter Mass celebrated at Holy Etchmiadzin was again circulated worldwide by the Public Channel of Armenia (H1) and followed by millions of viewers Armenians both in Armenia and in the world. Mass was celebrated by Catholicos Karekin II in the presence of Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan and Rita Sargsyan First Lady of Armenia. Many ministers and members of the Armenian government also attended the Easter mass. Note the presence of ambassadors and numerous personalities Armenian diaspora in St. Echmiadzin.

Krikor Amirzayan

Islamic State controlled Armenian church totally destroyed in Iraq

March 2, 2016 By administrator

f56d6a65140e57_56d6a65140e7a.thumb The St Mary Armenian church of Sinjar (northern Iraq) has been totally destroyed by Islamic State (IS) militants who kept the sacred place under control.

Citing its sources from Erbil (capital of Iraqi Kurdistan), the local Armenian website Arevelk (East) reports that scores of skeletons thought to have belonged to residents of the region were recently found in the vicinities of the church.

The Armenian population of Sinjar left the province after the Islamic State’s invasion.

Sinjar is considered the main center of the Yezidi community of Iraq.

18th century Armenian church put up for sale in Turkey

February 25, 2016 By administrator

206876 A 300-year-old Armenian church has been put up for sale in Turkey for $1.5 million, state-run Anadolu Agency reported Thursday, February 25.

An advert on the property website Sahibinden shows the ramshackle, three-story building in the heart of Bursa, northwest Turkey, is located near the tombs of the fifth Ottoman sultan, Mehmed I, and the 14th century tomb of Bayezid I’s adviser and son-in-law.

Real estate agent Tayfun Ozengirler said the building in the Setbasi neighborhood was registered in as a historical monument in 1986.

“The area where the church is situated was once inhabited by Armenians,” Ozengirler said. “You can smell the history on every corner.”

Bursa, the capital of the Ottoman Empire before the capture of Constantinople in 1453, was a center of Armenian culture, with the Armenian Patriarchate based in Setbasi before moving to Istanbul.

Ozengirler said he had received a number of queries concerning the advert. “No one has agreed on the price so far though,” he told Anadolu Agency.

Armenian church in Turkey to serve as center for culture

February 13, 2016 By administrator

205970 A historic Armenian church in the town of Turgutlu in Turkey‘s Manisa province is currently under repair to later serve as a center for education, culture and art, Ermenihaber.am reports.

Before 2003, the church was used as a service building for the Turgutlu city hall.

In an interview with a Turkish TV channel, leader of Turgutly regional center from the ruling AK Party Muris Gedizli expressed concern over the possibility of the building to once again become a pilgrimage site.

The Turkish official was, perhaps, infuriated by the fact that even after serving other purposes for so many years, the church hasn’t fallen into oblivion, still being referred to as an Armenian place of worship.

No information on the church’s possible return to the Armenians has ever emerged though.

Armenian church in Turkey under treasure hunters’ target

January 20, 2016 By administrator

An Armenian church in Turkey’s northeast has been reduced to ruins because of a hole dug by treasure hunters.
Left to the mercy of fate, the St Astvatsatsin church of Erzincan (historical Armenian Yerznka) is now under treasure hunters’ target, the Turkish-Armenian publication Agos reports.
Efforts have now been undertaken towards protecting the historical site.
A resident of the village, Tolga Gurun, has called attention to the problem, saying that the church has been under spotlight since the robbery of its icons five years ago.
The local authorities had earlier issued an instruction for rebuilding the church, but no steps were taken after the regional governor’s replacement.
Recent studies revealed signs of collapse on the building’s second floor. Earlier reports suggested that the church would resume its original image after the renovation.

Armenian church in Aleppo hit by rocket attack

January 18, 2016 By administrator

f569cb45d29463_569cb45d294a0.thumb Armed terrorist groups launched rocket attacks on December 17 on Aleppo’s districts Munshie, Aziziye and Saadallah Al-Jabiri, Kantsasar paper said in a Facebook statement .

The Armenian Evangelical Emmanuel Church also came under fire a few hours after the morning Liturgy. No victims were reported, but the church building suffered considerable damage.

The roof and benches of the 100-year-old church were damaged, according to arevik.am.
Source Panorama.am

Turkish Police Break the Doors of Armenian Church in Mardin

December 17, 2015 By administrator

St.-Kevork-Merdin YEREVAN (Public Radio of Armenia)—Turkish policemen have broken the door of Sourp Kevork (St. George) Armenian Church in Mardin, Turkey.

Hatun Jajur, who has voluntarily undertaken to clean the church, had left for a while and found everything turned upside down upon return.

“Not only the main entrance, but also all other doors of the church were broken,” Jajur said.

The Church is one of Europe’s seven most endangered monuments. For 15 centuries the Church of St. George was the spiritual home of the large Armenian community in the Turkish city of Mardin. This Grade I registered historical building was founded in 420 AD and was in use until the Armenian genocide of 1915. In spite of its outstanding historical and cultural importance, this monument is currently in an advance state of decay.

NATO Member Anti Christian Turkey will Turn Armenian church Founded in 1881 into house

August 1, 2015 By administrator

The municipal authorities of Turkey’s Eskishehir city are going to start the reconstruction of an Armenian church to reopen it as a house of culture.

Founded in 1881, the Holy Trinity church is now being rebuilt by the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
The building, which is considered one of the biggest churches of Anatolia, for many years served as just a storehouse.

After reconstruction, it is expected to host exhibitions, concerts and assemblies.

The Middle East Technical University and the Gazi University are going to renovate the church’s venues.

The building will always be open for tourists; its interior will be decorated by carpets characteristic of the town Sivrihisar.