PanARMENIAN.Net

Exact number of Armenian historical monuments in Turkey unknown
09.03.2007 17:32 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Akhtamar is a universal property. That is why the
Turkish government decided to reconstruct it, historian Samvel
Karapetian told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter. In his words, the Akhtamar
Church has no analogs in the world’s architecture and
sculpture. `Akhtamar is unique and the Turkish government will receive
fantastic profits from the flow of tourists. The contents of the
inscription on the wall of the temple is a question of minor
importance for them. Greek, Armenian and Assyrian monuments are being
reconstructed throughout Turkey presently and Turks themselves decide
whether or not to mention their belonging,’ Karapetian said.

The Armenian historian also noted that the exact number of historical
and cultural monuments in Turkey in not known. `According to the data
furnished by the Constantinople patriarchy, about 2100 churches
functioned in Western Armenia in 1912-1913. 3000 out of 8000 villages
in Western Armenia were inhabited by Armenians only. Thus, each
village had a church, sometimes even two churches. I think we can
speak of thousands of Armenian monuments throughout Turkey. Akhtamar
was lucky to avoid the fate of churches in Mush and Kars which were
transformed into mosques,’ Karapetian said.