ARMENIANS IN ANATOLIA WAIT FOR CLERGY
Vartan Estukyan 01.26.2015 09:46 SOCIETY
Although there are Armenian churches in Diyarbakýr, Van and Kayseri,
regular mass cannot be held because religious clergy is not appointed
by the Patriarchate. There are no permanent religious officials in
churches in Turkey apart from the churches in Istanbul and the church
in Ãskenderun.
Although the Islamised Armenians in Anatolia face various difficulties
in retaining their identity, they continue to make an effort to return
to their roots and keep the culture of their forefathers alive. One of
the most significant obstacles they encounter is access to a church,
since most churches in Anatolia have been damaged. On the other hand,
although there are Armenian churches in Diyarbakýr, Van and Kayseri,
regular mass cannot be held because religious clergy is not appointed
by the Patriarchate.
At the moment, the only religious official who serves on a permanent
basis is Father Avedis Tabaþyan, the religious official of the Karasun
Manuk Church in Ãskenderun and the Surp Asdvadzadzin Church in Vakýflý
Koy. In addition to Tabaþyan, Father Krikor Damatyan and Deacon Artun
Damatyan visit churches across Anatolia in weeks following important
feasts and hold Badarak Mass with the local Armenian congregation.
Damatyan is actually a religious official of the Kadýkoy Church in
Istanbul, and is in Anatolia at the moment. However, the need for
permanent religious officials in Anatolia continues. Archbishop Ateþyan
responded to our question on the issue: “We cannot say that mass is
not held in Anatolia. Father Krikor Damatyan was in Elazýð last week,
and will be in Sivas this week. And Father Avedis Tabaþyan serves in
Ãskenderun.” However, Anatolian Armenians believe that there should
be permanent religious officials at their churches.
Diyarbakýr is the centre
Armen Galustyan, the President of the Daron Muþ Armenians Solidarity
Social Tourism Association, criticized the Patriarchate and argued
that there should be a religious official in a church in Anatolia:
“Diyarbakýr has a very central location, it is only an hour’s distance
to many cities in Anatolia. Not only Diyarbakýr, there could also be
a religious official in Van, but there should be a permanent religious
official at least in Diyarbakýr. And mass should be held at least twice
a month. There are Armenians living in many cities from Muþ to Batman
to Kayseri. These people have reverted to their identity, and they
want to keep it alive. The church is of paramount importance for that.”
Galustyan also states that the church for him has a cultural rather
than religious significance: “For me the Church is my culture. I want
my funeral to be held there, I want to get married in church. But
no one in Istanbul cares about this. The community here will never
become active if a representative is not sent from Istanbul.”
‘No churches have been left standing!’
Hikmet Bakýrcý, a resident of Adýyaman, states that the Armenians
in Adýyaman attend mass held at the Syriac Church. Bakýrcý says
that the majority of the congregation attending mass at the Ancient
Syriac Church are Armenians, and that since there are no Armenian
churches in good conditions to hold service in surrounding cities,
they are forced to hold their religious ceremonies in other churches:
“All the Armenian churches in this area have been destroyed. The church
in the best condition in this area is in Diyarbakýr, but that is quite
a distance. We can only go there on religious feast. The only church
we can hold mass in Adýyaman is the Ancient Syriac Church. We hold
mass once every two weeks, and sometimes three times a month. 80%
of those who attend are Armenians.”
‘Armenians have become Syriacized’
The circumstances in Diyarbakýr are different. Melike Dara Gunal, a
resident of Diyarbakýr, says that Armenians in Anatolia were either
Islamised over time, or lost their beliefs, whereas some Diyarbakýr
Armenians have adapted to Syriac culture. “Most Diyarbakýr Armenians,
for social and political reasons, have become Islamised or lost
their beliefs. Therefore, the appointment of a permanent religious
official to the church would have no affect on that group. The number
of Christian Armenians is sadly no more than a few. And they have
been influenced by Syriac theology, and have adapted to the culture
of the Syriac Church.”
Gunal adds that there are also some Armenians who want a permanent
religious official to be appointed to the Surp Giragos Church:
“Albeit a few, there are still some who want the appointment of a
religious official so that Christianity, a fundamental element of
Armenian culture, can be learned. The very few remaining Anatolian
Armenians are trying to keep their faith alive. However, the younger
generation of Armenians lose their identity, as they are detached from
the church; they either become Syriacized, Kurdified or Turkified. The
presence of a religious official is of great importance for the sake
of keeping Anatolian Armenians together.”