HEAD OF THE ARMENIAN PATRIARCHATE VISITS HOMETOWN SILVAN IN SOUTHEASTERN TURKEY

Hurriyet Daily News, Turkey
Sept 11 2013

DÄ°YARBAKIR – Anadolu Agency

The acting head of the Armenian Patriarchate in Turkey Aram AteÅ~_yan
has visited his hometown Silvan in the southeastern Diyarbakır
province on Sept. 11, a first since he was delegated the office
following the withdrawal of Archbishop Mesrob Mutafyan from his duties
in 2008 due to illness.

AteÅ~_yan expressed his joy at being able to make an official visit
to his homeland, but deplored the destruction of Armenian cultural
legacy in the area.

“I have returned happily to Silvan that I had left with sadness when
I was five years old,” AteÅ~_yan said, adding that he frequently
visited the district where his sister is still living.

“Once upon a time, Turks and Armenians lived together in this land.

Steps are being taken now to ensure that we can live all together
once again. We have come to consolidate love and brotherhood,”
AteÅ~_yan said.

AteÅ~_yan stressed the richness of the historic cultural heritage in
the region.

“There were eight Armenian churches in the Silvan region alone, but
most have now been destroyed. The historical monuments should be taken
under protection and the consciousness of protecting history should
be developed. The historical buildings and monuments in Silvan should
be promoted to the whole world,” he said.

Mass at Surp Giragos Church

AteÅ~_yan also paid a visit to the Surp Giragos Church in Diyarbakır,
where he conducted a mass attended by Mayor Osman Baydemir and the
famous writer of Armenian origin, Mıgırdıc Margosyan.

The church was restored on Baydemir’s initiative and reopened in 2011.

AteÅ~_yan thanked the city officials and the Armenian community from
Diyarbakır for showing interest in reviving the Armenian traditions.

On Sept. 8, AteÅ~_yan had performed the first baptism in 98 years at
Akdamar Church (Akhtamar in Armenian) on Lake Van.

Turkish authorities restored the church between 2005 and 2007 before
opening it as a museum. The Divine Liturgy was celebrated there for
the first time in 95 years in 2010.

Eastern and southeastern Turkey was inhabited by a large Armenian
community before the mass massacres and deportations in 1915.

September/11/2013