RELIGIOUS HEADS GUIDED BY UNWRITTEN LAWS

Panorama.am
20:59 30/03/2007

Hakob Chakryan, expert in Turkish studies, had visited St. Cross
Church of Aghtamar Island before the restoration. "It had no door, the
sacristy was totally destroyed… There were sculptures from old and
new testaments on the wall with signs of gunshots. At least by becoming
a museum it will be saved from destruction," Hakob Chakryan said.

He believes we should not negatively assess the restoration of the
church. Chakryan is not surprised.

He expected that St. Cross would be opened as a museum. However,
it is unacceptable for the religious heads of the country. The
Armenian Apostolic Church believes it is immoral to take part in the
inauguration of St. Cross Church as a museum because it used to serve
as a stable, arms storage and refuge for soldiers.

"I believe no man of church would be delighted to take part in the
ceremony," Ter Vahram, a clergy, said. He said our religious fathers
declined the Turkish side based on moral laws, which are not written.