kurdishinfo.com, Germany
April 27 2005

Do the Armenian Churches in Van remain on dusty pages of history?

VAN (DÄ°HA) – Whilst the Turkish Culture and Tourism Ministry
allocated TL 2 trillion 4 hundred billion for the restoration of
Akdamar Church, the historical Red Church of 750 years which is 7 km
away from Lake Van and belongs to Armenians was abandoned to its own
fate.

Nowadays, when the Armenian Massacre has been discussed, the Armenian
Churches in Van have almost become extinct due to indifference. From
an architectural and historical point of view, the most remarkable
church in the eastern city of Van is the Armenian Red Church (called
Dêra Sor, Dêra Kutisan in Kurdish) of 750 years. It has the same
architectural style as the Akdamar Church and is located within the
borders of Göründü (Mıxrapêt) village on the side of Lake Van;
however, this miracle of great historic and architectural value has
not been able to take in any presenting brochure. What’s more, the
Church has been provided with no protective measures but exposed to
treasure seekers’ destruction; its walls, which treasure hunters
scraped out, are nearly in a state of non-existence. Transportation
to the Church is procured either on foot or with saddle animals, as
there is no road and the nearest location to church is Göründü
village 10 km away. The church, which has been abandoned to its own
fate, was robbed of its iron doom last summer, too.

TL 2.4 trillion of the Akdamar Church
While the Akdamar Church made a contribution of 2 trillion 4 hundred
billon after Van Governor Niyazi Tanılır applied to the Ministry of
Culture and Tourism no one knows or minds how much the Red Church has
been suffering from the lack of interest.

“Our fathers lived together with Armenians”
Fahrettin Kızılaslan from Göründü Village showed reaction to why
no contribution has hitherto been made for the Red Church in their
settlement and stated he, as a Muslim, is in favor of protecting the
archeological and historical values of Armenians. “Our fathers and
Armenians lived together on these lands. Today, I want to claim these
traces my self, but unfortunately, I cannot afford to do so. The
State should have granted an allowance to the Red Church, just like
it contributed to the Akdamar Church, restored it and assigned a
guard to the Church at least. For no one has saved this great work of
art, every treasure haunter scraped it off as much as s/he wanted, so
destruct its walls. This part of church which has still been standing
up can be restored well.”

“Blow on tourism”
The church is desired to be visited by a great many of domestic and
foreign tourists, but they cannot because of the lack of road to
enable transportation, explains Kızıltaş adding, because there is
no road the tourists who want to see the Church turn from Güründü
back.” Such a church being within the border of our village is of
great significance to develop and present it, yet this historical
Armenian Church has not been given any place in a catalogue
representing Van. Transportation is carried out on foot or with
saddle animals. Had been built up a road, far more tourists would
come to visit the Armenian Red Church”

Van Culture Director: Van city is full of Armenian works
Van Culture Director Izet Kütükoğlu said they were confused at
which art works of Armenians they would restore, as there are so many
archeological values of Armenians in Van. “The city is full of
Armenian works and is rich of historical and architectural places.
There are many churches in country and in where we are unable to
arrive at. An allowance has been granted for the Akdamar Church this
year. We are trying to repair historical structures in Van, as much
as we have the chance and the possibility to do. The archeological
construction like HoÅŸap Castle has been suffering from destructions
too much; repairs and restoration will be held when there is a
sufficient budget”