HISTORICAL ARMENIAN CHURCH IN TURKEY TO BE RESTORED

Anadolu Agency
April 7 2010
Turkey

Eskisehir, 7 April: One of the biggest Armenian churches in Anatolia
and one that was constructed in 1881 in Sivrihisar town of the western
province of Eskisehir, Surp Yerortutyun, will go through restoration.

Speaking to the AA, Mayor of Sivrihisar Fikret Arslan said Wednesday
that they wanted to restore many historical buildings in the town,
including the Surp Yerortutyun Church.

We want to renovate historical buildings in Sivrihisar and this
includes an Armenian church constructed in 1881 and an Armenian bath,
Arslan said.

The restoration of the Surp Yerortutyun Church will be sponsored by
the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the church will be
turned into a home of culture.

Sivrihisar ("a pointed castle") is a town and district of Eskisehir
province in the Central Anatolian region of Turkey. According to 2000
census, population of the district is 31,583 of which 10,574 live in
the town of Sivrihisar. The district covers an area of 2,987 square
kilometres (1,153 square miles), and the average elevation is 1,070
meters (3,510 feet).

According to a claim, the legendary Nasreddin Hoca was born in Hortu
village of Sivrihisar.