MOSQUE FOUNDATION FUNDS RESTORATION OF ARMENIAN CHURCH

Today’s Zaman
Oct 29 2009
Turkey

A Malatya foundation that was established to build mosques has assumed
the financial costs of the restoration of a historic Armenian church
located in the neighborhood where assassinated Turkish-Armenian
journalist Hrant Dink was born.

The head of the Carmuzu TepebaÅ~_ı Mosque Building and Preservation
Foundation, Latif Yıldırım, said they started planning the project
to help restore the Armenian TaÅ~_horon Church in 2008 and wrote
letters to the Prime Ministry and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism
as well as Armenian businessmen to win their support. They also spoke
with the Armenian Patriarchate in March, he said.

Money had been allocated for the restoration by the Culture and
Tourism Ministry in 2009; however, due to budgetary problems, the
foundation decided to take on the costs of the restoration. While
noting that their project, which they call a "project of peace," is
a model of good relations between different faiths, Yıldırım said,
"We do not think we will experience financial problems."

Armenian Archbishop Aram AteÅ~_yan said the church is a cultural
treasure and added, "We will be very happy if such a project is carried
out." He also noted that there are some other churches in need of
restoration and highlighted that this must also be done. The muhtar
(local official) of the neighborhood in which the church is situated,
Mustafa Å~^ahin, said such a project would contribute to peace and
stressed, "Whether used as a place of worship or as a museum, the
historic church will contribute to unity and solidarity in the area
as well as to tourism."