ARMENIAN AMERICANS LOOKING FORWARD TO ONE-DAY WORSHIP AT AKDAMAR
Today’s Zaman
May 7 2010
Turkey
Turkey will open up the Armenian church in the east of the country for
a one-day worship on September 12 and Armenians living in California
are looking forward to take part at the worship, a Turkish diplomat
said.
Hakan Tekin, Turkey’s Consul General in Los Angeles where around 1
million Armenian Americans live, said that Turkey’s decision to open
up the Akdamar Church on an island on Lake Van for a one-day worship
caused a stir among Armenian American community in Los Angeles.
"A large number of reservations have been made already," Tekin said.
The 1,100-year-old Akdamar Church was opened in 2007 at a ceremony
that hosted officials from Armenia and Turkey after it was restored
by the Turkish government. The restoration costed some 1.7 million USD.
"I hope our recent constructive policy toward Armenia yields reciprocal
steps," he said.
"If normalization process goes on its course, I believe that
it would have significant effects on our relations with Armenian
diaspora, especially with Armenians living in California who are the
hard-liners," Tekin said.
The Akdamar Church was constructed by architect bishop Manuel between
915 and 921 A.D. under the supervision of King Gagik I. Among the
important pieces of Armenian architecture, the church draws attraction
with its stone workmanship and the relieves on its walls.
Earlier this March, Turkish government gave permission that a religious
rite may take place once every year at the church upon a proposal by
the Van Governorship and approval by the Turkish Minister of Culture
and Tourism Ertugrul Gunay.
The rite at the Akdamar Church will take place each year in the second
week of September, officials said. Turkish officials believe it would
boost religious tourism in the region.