Armenian clerics refuse to attend church opening in Turkey

Mediamax news agency
27 Mar 07

Yerevan, 27 March: The Holy See of Echmiadzin said today that
representatives of the Armenian Apostolic Church (AAC) will not take
part in the opening ceremony of the Surb Khach Church in Turkey (Lake
Van, Akhtamar Island), planned for 29 March.

The main reason for this decision is the fact that "the church,
restored by the Turkish authorities, will be turned into a museum and
will not be functioning as a church under the religious sacred
authority of the Armenian Patriarchy of Constantinople", the press
service of Holy Echmiadzin told Mediamax today. The press service of
Holy Echmiadzin also said that the ceremony will bear a particularly
secular character, and according to the canons of the AAC, Holy
Echmiadzin will not participate in it.

"This action of the Turkish authorities, directed against the
Christian feelings of the Armenian people, cannot be perceived as a
positive step along the path to mutual rapprochement of the Armenian
and Turkish peoples, especially in the context of the general striving
for cooperation of nations, the dialogue of religions and cultures,"
the press service of Holy Echmiadzin said.

The invitation to take part in the opening ceremony of the Surb Khach
Church, sent by the governor of Van, was handed to the head of the
AAC, Catholicos Garegin II, through the Armenian Foreign Ministry.