AGOS Weekly, Istanbul
Nov 5 2009
Turkey’s `faith initiative’ looks east
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Vercihan ZiflioÄ?lu
Istanbul Hurriyet Daily News
Turkey’s Culture and Tourism Ministry says the Surp Haç Church on
Akdamar Island in Lake Van and the Monastery of Sümela in Trabzon will
be open for prayer once a year. Minister Günay says that a cross will
be erected atop the roof of Surp Haç, just as it had been originally
Mainly spearheaded by efforts to bring prayers back into churches,
Turkey’s cultural initiatives are set to accelerate in 2010, according
to the Culture and Tourism Ministry.
Armenia pleased by developments
Günay also told the Daily News he might visit Armenia. `As you
remember, President Gül has visited Armenia. If our President has
visited, there is no reason at all why I would not go, also,’ he said.
The dialogue began with Surp Haç
It is widely assumed that the dialogue process between Turkey and
Armenia started with the national football match last year. However,
the actual contact began with the restoration process of the Surp Haç
Church on Akdamar Island in Lake Van. Former Culture Minister Atilla
Koç contacted Gagik Gürciyan and invited the Armenian expert to visit
Turkey. Although coordinated efforts were realized despite the two
countries’ closed borders, heavy criticism was levied in Armenia and
among the diaspora following the church’s opening as a museum.
The protocols signed between Turkey and Armenia for the normalization
of relations has started to bear fruit. Minister of Culture and
Tourism ErtuÄ?rul Günay, who has reached out to his Armenian
counterpart through the Hurriyet Daily News & Economic Review in the
past, reiterated a standing offer: `Let Armenian and Turkish experts
restore the ruins of Ani together.’
The Ani excavation site, near the Armenian border in the Arpaçay
District of Kars, was the capital of the Armenian Kingdom of
Bagratunis between 961 and 1045. The Daily News spoke to the
International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) Armenian
President Gagik Gürcüyan about the offer. Gürcüyan expressed pleasure
at the developments and said that the organization will contact the
Culture Ministry and will happily work together to restore the site.
Günay: `I may visit Armenia’
The Ani ruins caused a diplomatic crisis between Turkey and Armenia
years ago. Turkey filed a complaint to ICOMOS, an organization
affiliated with UNSECO, saying that explosions at Armenian stone
quarries are damaging the site. Günay said the explosions have since
stopped, much to his relief. `Ani is a common legacy of humanity,’ he
said. `We must do all we can to pass it on to the future generations.’
The ministry said it is preparing to open the recently renovated,
historical Surp Haç Church for prayer once a year and affix a cross to
its roof in its original place. Also, the Monastery of Sümela in
Trabzon will be opened for prayer once a year.
As it was initially reopened as a museum, no cross was placed on the
roof of the church. A replica of the original cross, made according to
the traditions of the Armenian Apostolic Church, was brought to
Istanbul by Armenian experts and delivered to Armenian Patriarch of
Turkey Mesrob Mutafyan. The cross is waiting at the Turkish Armenian
Patriarchate to be placed atop the restored church.
Legal problems
Minister Günay spoke about the latest developments and delays.
`Unfortunately, there were some hitches with the laws that did not
allow historical churches to be opened for prayer,’ he said. `That was
the reason for the debates over the cross.’
Günay said the ministry is in the final stage of working out the legal
hitches and that similar problems will not be experienced in Turkey in
the future. Günay said the cross would be placed atop the church
shortly and the building will be opened for prayer once a year, if
there is demand.
Prayer will also be allowed in Sümela
Along with Surp Haç Church, the Monastery of Sümela in Trabzon will
also be opened for prayer once a year. Last year, a group of 500
tourists from Greece, among them Thessaloniki Mayor Panayotis
Psomyadis and Russian Deputy Ivan Savidis, sought to light candles at
the monastery but were interrupted by Nilgün Yılmazer, museum director
of Trabzon. When reminded of this incident, Minister Günay said they
would not allow such things to be experienced in Turkey again and `all
believers in these lands will follow their faiths’ requirements
freely.’
`A late decision’
Architect Zakaria MildanoÄ?lu, who was assigned by the Turkish Armenian
Patriarchate to the renovation of Surp Haç, evaluated the developments
as a late decision. MildanoÄ?lu said former Minister Koç transferred
the matter to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the time. `The
Ministry of Foreign Affairs deals with foreigners. Minister Koç saw
the citizens of his own country as foreigners, but we have lived on
these lands for hundreds of years; we are not foreigners.’
Sarkis Elbe, a prominent Armenian figure in Istanbul, said: `This is a
political decision. If only they had not waited for the signing of the
protocols just to make this decision.’
Osman Köker, researcher and owner of Birzamanlar publishing, had a
different take on the developments. `Turkey is trying to play a
leading role in the region and to develop good relations with its
neighbors,’ he said. `Turkey also protects the rights of minorities in
the country.’
Köker added that the process should be supported. `Opening religious
buildings of historical importance to visitors would boost the number
of tourists visiting our country.’