KAREKIN II AND ARAM I URGE TURKEY TO RETURN CONFISCATED ARMENIAN CHURCHES
09:44, 24 April, 2013
YEREVAN, APRIL 24, ARMENPRESS. His Holiness Karekin II, the Supreme
Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, and His Holiness Aram I,
Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, issued a statement, where
they urge Turkey to return confiscated Armenian churches and church
estates. The Information System of the Mother See informed “Armenpress”
that in particular the statement runs as follows:
“In 2015, the Armenian people of the Republic of Armenia, the Republic
of Nagorno-Karabakh and the Diaspora will commemorate the 100th
anniversary of the Armenian Genocide committed by the Ottoman Empire.
In 1915, more than 1.5 million Armenians became victims of genocide.
The survivors on the roads of exile found shelter in Eastern Armenia,
present-day Republic of Armenia, Syria, Lebanon and other Arabic
nations, and in a number of other countries of the world.
The Genocide victims and the internally displaced people who lived
under the jurisdiction of the Ottoman Empire in Western Armenia,
Cilicia, and other regions of the Ottoman Empire, along with their own
personal estates, also lost estates and holdings owned by the church
– churches , sanctuaries and monasteries; religious, educational and
charitable institutional centers; treasures of cultural and religious
value – cross-stones (khachkars), illuminated manuscripts, icons and
other items of value; and holdings owned by the State of Turkey under
the classification of “abandoned estates”.
98 years after the Genocide the present Turkish nation, as
the successors of the Ottoman Empire, not only deny that its
predecessors plotted and committed the Genocide, but also continues
its anti-Armenian policy, still retaining confiscated church estates
and properties, and religious and cultural treasures of the Armenian
people.
Therefore, We call on the Republic of Turkey and demand the following:
To recognize the Armenian Genocide;
To fully compensate the Armenians who suffered losses and the violation
of their human and national rights;
To immediately return the Armenian churches, monasteries, church
properties, and spiritual and cultural treasures, to the Armenian
people as their rightful owner.
Remembering the victims of the Armenian Genocide with prayers, We
condemn any violation against God- given life, human dignity and the
peaceful coexistence of people “For God is not the God of discord,
but of peace ” (Corinthians 14.33), and has called on people for love,
solidarity and cooperation.
With gratitude We honor all nations and peoples who gave shelter
to the Armenians displaced by Genocide, and showed compassion and
brotherly love for the dispersed and exiled Armenians.
The Armenian nation will also be eternally grateful to all the nations
who, guided by the principles of humanity and justice, have condemned
and officially recognized the Armenian Genocide.
On the eve of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide we
must put all our efforts into action to realize the demands of the
Armenian nation for the sake of justice and defense of the rights of
all Armenians.”