ARMENIAN HERITAGE The story of “Hürriyet” in the footsteps of 4 Armenian churches on 4 islands of Lake Van and the Church of St. Bartholomew

May 20, 2015 By administrator

The Armenian Church Holy Cross (Surb Khach) Akhtamar Island on Lake Van is famous. But what do we know of the other churches of the other islands of Lake Van? The four of Van Lake Islands each have an Armenian church. “The whole world knows Akhtamar, but the other churches of the other islands of Lake Van are each treasures to discover” Deniz Ciyan wrote in the magazine of the Turkish newspaper ” Hürriyet “. He adds “In 2010 after its renovation and opening after work, Armenians from every corner of the earth came to gather at the Holy Cross Church of Akhtamar.

The article in “Hürriyet” describes the richness of the architectural work of the 8th century “with Mount Sipan landscape visible from the bottom (…) after an hour and a half sailing our boat arrived on an uninhabited island” the church we see there is a construction of the 9th century. Decorations and carvings on the outside and inside of this church are as rich as Holy Cross, the roof of this church and its bell tower are still in place, “wrote Deniz Ciyan.

He continues “the four islands of Lake Van, each housing an Armenian church. We have not visited the other two islands but on the banks of Lake Van, in the village of Albayrak Pachkalé we visited the Church of St. Bartholomew. In the first century when the apostles of Christ came to Anatolia to spread Christianity among Armenians, Saint Bartholomew was martyred near Van and this church was built on this site. Until 2013 the church was located in a military zone. And that’s why she was spared by treasure hunters. Today the church is under the supervision of a villager. It was with his permission and that of the gendarmes we visit the church. She not distinguish its large size. Before the 1976 earthquake the two towers were intact. But before another earthquake occurs, the church needs to be restored. It could become an interesting place for tourists not only Turkey but worldwide. I invite you to visit this church faultless Saint Barthelemy. Van and secret churches have remained a surprising beauty and wealth. “

An invitation to tourism which Turkey will be the first recipient … and the Armenian heritage also, by its discovery or rediscovery and development.

Krikor Amirzayan

ANCA launches campaign on Turkey return of churches

October 7, 2014 By administrator

The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) has launched a campaign urging U.S. House vote on the Turkey Christian Churches Accountability Act.

Committee Chairman Ed Royce (R-CA) and Ranking Democrat Eliot Engel (D-NY) led the effort which received broad bipartisan support despite a last minute campaign led by pro-Turkey lobbyists to gut the measure. An amended version of H.R. 4347 was adopted by voice vote by the House Foreign Affairs Committee in June.

Introduced in March H.R. 4347 requires that the U.S. Department of State formally report to Congress on an annual basis about the status of Turkey’s return of stolen Christian churches and properties in Turkey and occupied Cyprus. H.R. 4347 builds on a measure (H.Res.306), spearheaded by Chairman Royce and then House Foreign Affairs Committee Ranking Democrat Howard Berman (D-CA), which was overwhelmingly adopted by the House of Representatives on Dec 13, 2011. That resolution set the groundwork for H.R.4347 by calling upon the government of Turkey to honor its international obligations to return confiscated Christian church properties and to fully respect the rights of Christians to practice their faiths.

The Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia also said he will petition to Turkey’s constitutional court to demand the return of Sis Catholicosate to the Armenian Church.

As Aram I stressed at the 5th Armenia-Diaspora conference in Yerevan, he’ll apply to the European Court for Human Rights, should Turkey’s court turn down the petition. As the Catholicos stressed, Turkey must always be reminded that Armenia will never stop fighting for its rights in the face of all odds.

The Catholicos further called to struggle for retribution of misappropriated Armenian property and restoration of rights in following the suit of the Armenian youth who raised their voices in 1965 demanding return of their lands.

“In 2015, on the centenary of Genocide, their children and Diaspora youth must join their voices to urge for justice,” he said.

Armenian churches turn into Islamist structures in Syria – expert

April 12, 2014 By administrator

Most rebel-controlled Armenian churches in Syria have turned into certain Islamic orgamnizations amid the continuing war in the country, an Armenian monumentalist has warned.

Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Raffi Kortoshyan, a researcher at the Armenian Architecture Foundation, said he knows definitely that the Katoghike church of Lagga is now under opposition control. “The church does not function now; it has turned into an Islamic structure,” he noted.

Kortoshyan said the Armenian Apostolic church of Talabiat is also under seizure and thought to have suffered damage.

“As a monument, the cemetery of three communities of Kessab have been desecrated; the Armenian catholics and evangelists had chapels there,” he added.

As for Kessab, the expert said there are varying reports on the Armenian populated city, adding that they haven’t got clear information yet. “There were three churches in the Kessab region. The villages also have churches controlled by the opposition, but there are no clear reports about them either,” he said.

Source: Tert.am