AKHTAMAR’S SURB KHACH CHURCH HAS HAD A CROSS, AND THE CROSS – A PHOTOGRAPH
By H. Chaqrian
AZG Armenian Daily
22/03/2007
After weeks of prolongation the opening of the reconstructed of
Surb Khach Church of the Akhtamar Isle was finally arranged on
March 29. According to latest information, numerous guests, among
them Culture Minister of Armenia Hasmik Poghosian, are invoted to
the ceremony.
Still, the reconstruction must be considered incomplete, as the
church bell and the cross have not been restored on their places. To
be reminded, Turkish authorities explained that fault by lack of
information about the cross, its look and design.
Meanwhile numerous photographs of the church, with brilliant view
of the cross, were published both in Armenian and Western press and
scientific works. Two of those photos "Azg" received from "Azdak"
newspaper director Shahan Gantaharian, Beirut, which proves the
inconsistence of the explanations of Turkish Culture Minister Koc
and expert Hazan.
But the problems about Akhtamar do not end up in the problem of the
cross. If not so, a group of Turkish Armenian intellectuals would have
no reason to address aforementioned Mr. Koc with request to consecrate
the church during the opening ceremony, to commit the consecration
to Patriarch Mesrob II Mutafian, to hand the church to the Patriarchy
and restore its original Armenian name "Akhtamar", which was altered
to Turkish Akdamar so as to mar the Armenian heritage.
Such request is not occasional. On March 9 "Vatan" newspaper, Turkey,
published an article by Mehmed Ozturk, to which the Patriarch responded
on March 19 by a publication in "Lraber". Ozturk’s article says:
"To whom shall be handed the church? To the Patriarchies of Lebanon
and Jerusalem or the Catholicosate of Armenia?" Such prevocational
questions need no comments. It is a background for new insinuations,
which can cast a shadow upon the festive ceremony of opening, organized
by the Government of Turkey.