ARMENIAN DELEGATION TO PARTICIPATE IN REOPENING OF SURB KHACH CHURCH
COMPOSED OF ARCHITECTS, ARCHEOLOGISTS AND HISTORIANS
YEREVAN, MARCH 23, NOYAN TAPAN. A 6-member Armenian official
delegation mainly composed of architects, archeologists and historians
will participate in the reopening ceremony of Surb Khach Church on
Aghtamar Island of Van. The delegation headed by RA Deputy Minister of
Culture and Youth Issues Gagik Gyurjian is composed of Artyom
Grigorian, Director of the Monument Preservation Agency of the
ministry, Mkrtich Minasian, Chairman of the Union of Architects of
Armenia, Ruben Safrasiain, Turkologist, Director of the Institute of
Oriental Studies of the RA National Academy of Sciences (NAS), Murad
Hasratian, Doctor of Architecture, employee of the Art Institute of
the RA NAS, and Pavel Avetisian, Director of the Institute of
Archeology and Ethnography of the RA NAS.
Representatives of the ministry said at the March 22 press conference
that the day of departure and the route have not been clarified yet.
They failed to answer some questions of reporters, particularly the
questions about the re-consecration of Surb Khach Church and the
mounting of its cross. They did not know if the church will be a
historic monument or religious rituals will be held in it.
Head of the Cultural Policy Department of the ministry Karo Vardanian
told reporters not to hurry as they will receive answers to all thier
questions after the delegation returns from Van.