CHRISTIANS IN ÝSKENDERUN CELEBRATE EID AL-FITR
Today’s Zaman, Turkey
Oct 11 2007
Orthodox Christians in Ýskenderun, who have for centuries lived
together in peace with the Turkish Muslim population, welcomed
this year’s Eid al-Fitr celebrations with a banner displayed on the
walls of the city church reading: "We celebrate Eid al-Fitr with the
Muslim world."
The banner displayed on the walls of the Orthodox Christian church
in Ýskenderun reads, "We celebrate Eid al-Fitr with the Muslim world."
Ýskenderun, one of the most cosmopolitan provinces of Turkey, embracing
several ethnic communities, continues to strengthen the fraternal ties
between its Muslim and Christian population. A fast-breaking evening
meal organized the previous week by the Orthodox Christians proved
the close ties among followers of the two religions, and Ýskenderun
featured once again on the national agenda as an example of tolerance
with the banner celebrating Eid al-Fitr.
An Orthodox priest in the province, Dimitri Yýldýrým, expressing
that joint celebration of holy days is a tradition among the Muslim
and Christian communities in the region, said: "People should act
in unity and cooperation, particularly in this period when the
whole world needs peace. We celebrate the Eid al-Fitr of our Muslim
brothers, as evidenced through banners displayed on the walls of
our church." Head of the Foundation for the Karasun Manuk Armenian
Church Babris Kýsadur also stressed in a statement that all segments
of society should cooperate to create and maintain an atmosphere of
peace and tolerance in Turkey.
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