ACCORDING TO DEPUTY MINISTER OF CULTURE, CROSS TO BE MOUNTED SOON ON DOME OF SURB KHACH CHURCH
Noyan Tapan
Apr 02 2007
YEREVAN, APRIL 2, NOYAN TAPAN. If the Armenian Patriarch of
Constantinople Mesrob Mutafian had not delivered a speech at the
re-opening ceremony of Surb Khach (Holy Cross) Church on Aghtamar
Island of Van, the head of the Armenian delegation which attended
the ceremony, RA deputy minister of culture and youth issues Gagik
Gyurjian would have made a speech. G. Gyurjian stated this at the
April 2 press conference. In his words, according to a preliminary
agreement and the Turkish side’s plan, the Armenian delegation
was not to make a speech, however, a speech was prepared jointly
the RA Ministry of Foreign Affairs io order to use it in case of
necessity. The deputy minister said that in his speech the Armenian
Patriarch of Constantinople pointed out a number of issues of concern
to the Armenians, including the issue of mounting a cross on the
church’s dome, celebrating the holiday of Surb Khach (Holy Cross)
once a year, and declaring March 29 Day of Aghtamar (on this day,
a national festivity with songs and dances will be held). As regards
the fact that there were Turkish flags and a portrait of Ataturk on
the church during the ceremony, G. Gyurjian noted that according
to Turkish law, "the Turkish flag and a portrait of Ataturk shall
be displayed at all state and governmental events." In his words,
the flag and portrait were immediately removed after the ceremony.
He expressed an opinion that the cross of the church will be mounted
soon – the cross has already been made and is now at the Patriarchate
of Constantinople. Moreover, the deputy minister said that the group
implementing the repair work during the church’s restoration kept a
constant touch with them. The Turkish side consulted with Armenian
architects on the issue of making the cross. G. Gyurjian said that
the church was restored and repaired in line with international
architectural standards, although there are some insignificant defects.