EASTERN ANATOLIAN CHURCHES TURKISH, NOT GEORGIAN OR ARMENIAN – STUDY

Anatolia News Agency, Turkey
Dec 7 2006

["RESEARCH REVEALS MANY OF CHURCHES IN EASTERN TURKEY BELONG TO TURKS" – AA headline]

ERZURUM (A.A) -07.12.2006 -A research carried out by Ass.Prof. Dr
Tahsin Parlak, head of the Traditional Craftsman Department at Ataturk
University, has revealed that many of the churches in eastern Anatolia
belonged to Kipchack Turks.

Speaking to A.A correspondent on Thursday, Parlak said they compared
the motifs, designs and manuscripts crafted on the Menzil Churches
which were constructed in eastern Anatolia, (which was under the
rule of Cildir Principality) between the 12th and 14th centuries with
those of motifs and designs from Central Asian Turks and Gokturk and
Uyghur epitaphs.

Noting that they have came across traces of Turkic origin in Aksik-a,
Banak, Parin-ak, Hov-ak, Ak-Pisor, Ak-Cur, Ovsan-Ak, Bibi Meryem Ana,
Haluli and Ishan churches Parlak said, "We have found motifs of "the
sun" and "two headed eagle" motifs and letters belonging to Uyghur
and Gokturk alphabets in the mentioned churches. These motives have
been used by Turks of the Central Asia for thousands of years. It is
possible to come across these motifs in all Turkic works of art.

These churches were thought to be of Georgian and Armenian origin as
no research had been done.

However, these motifs designs and letters reveal unequivocally that
these churches are the work of Kipchack Turks"

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress