Surp Giragos Armenian Church In Diyarbakir Prepares For Liturgy

SURP GIRAGOS ARMENIAN CHURCH IN DIYARBAKIR PREPARES FOR LITURGY

epress.am
10.13.2011 13:06

Once one of the largest churches in the Middle East, Surp Giragos
Church in Turkey’s southeastern province of Diyarbakýr will be reopened
on Oct. 23 for a religious ceremony, Today’s Zaman reports.

Renovation started at the end of 2009 after the Diyarbakýr Surp
Giragos Armenian Church Foundation undertook the restoration project
of the church.

Ergun Ayýk, the head of the foundation, said the Surp Giragos Church
is in a complex that encompasses more than 3,200 square meters
and includes a chapel, a meeting room, a school, a dining hall and
rectories.

“Restoration of the church, which makes up about 85 percent of the
complex, is secured. But the restoration of the rest of the complex
depends on more funds,” Ayýk said of the project, which has cost $2.5
million and has been provided mostly by the foundation.

Ayýk also added that while the Diyarbakýr Municipality had
provided about one-third of the total renovation budget, other
state institutions had not contributed even though the foundation had
requested more funding. “The rest of the renovation of the complex can
be completed in three or four months if funding is secured,” he said.

The church was seized by the German army during World War I, and in
1918, it was converted into a textile warehouse of Sumerbank. After
the Armenian population of the area made an application in 1952 asking
for its return, the church was given back to the community. However,
because of the lack of a congregation, it had been neglected since
1980.

“It was in ruins,” Ayýk said. “Its opening will make moral, economic
and social contributions.”

Ayýk said that on the evening of Oct. 22 there will be a service at
the church to consecrate it, and on the next day, which is a Sunday,
there will be a religious service.

“First, this is a very important church from an architectural point
of view. Second, it symbolizes the past. This is one of only seven
Armenian churches in the city,” he said and added that there had been
“about 40,000-45,000 Armenians” living in Diyarbakýr prior to the
mass deportation of Armenians in 1915.

Since the Surp Giragos Church in Diyarbakýr belongs to the church
foundation, there are no restrictions on when a service can be held.

“It is open to everybody who wants to be here,” Ayýk said. The service
will be headed by Archbishop Aram Ateþyan, the deputy patriarch of
the Armenian Patriarchate based in Ýstanbul.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress