By: Hassan Zubair
A 16th-Century Armenian Church had been officially reopened by Turkish Government. Turkish Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy said that after the opening ceremony on Saturday 21st-May-2022, all the services will be provided. The renovated Surp Giragos Armenian Church in Diyarbakir has risen the level of excitement amongst everyone who want to pray in the church. Since that structure had been damaged by terrorist attacks, reopening the church after renovation will allow people to worship there.
This historic church in Diyarbakir’s district was damaged by the PKK terrorist attack in 2015. The church is however, restored by the funds provided by the Urbanization and Climate Change Ministry with the collaboration of Turkey’s Foundations General Directorate. Various faiths and cultures live together in peace and harmony in Diyarbakir. People worship freely in the churches they wish to worship in. That includes the Giragos Armenian and Mar Petyun Chaldean Churches.
Such monumental structures had been targeted by terror groups over the past decade. Unfortunately the two structures which are considered to be treasure of Turkish cultural heritage were destroyed by those terror attacks. However with help of government funding those damaged structures have been restored. Those groups who wished to cast their shadow over the peace and harmony over the cities tranquility, wanted to destroy cities cultural heritage.
Mehmet Nuri said,” We believe that the places of worship all over the Anatolia are signs of respect and fellowship among us.”
The largest Armenian Gregorian Church in the Middle east is known not only by the citizens but also World-Wide. Mehmet Nuri told iPak correspondents that restoration cost approximately 32 million Turkish liras ($2.14 Million).
‘Sahak Mashalian’, the Patriarch of Turkish Armenians, called the opening of the church a lifeline for Diyarbakir’s Christian population. “It contains an important and meaningful message of friendship for the Armenian world in terms of the development of Turkish-Armenian relations,” he said.
“There are so many bright and positive events and experiences to be emphasized in the thousand-year-old Turkish-Armenian relations that we believe should be highlighted with the bridges of friendship that must be established in the future. We have to see this church, which was opened for worship, as a monument of good neighborly relations between Armenians, Turks, and Kurds, Christians and Muslims,” he added.
Turkey has a sizeable Armenian population. Normalization talks began earlier this year between Turks and the Armenia. The head of the Surp Giragos Armenian Church Foundation, Ergun Ayik said that the group of people who worked on the restoration of the church were under the direct supervision of the leadership in Diyarbakir Governorship. The support of Turkish Foundations General Directorate was indeed remarkable and played a major role in the renovation of the church. “The restoration was completed with sensitive and conscientious work. We hope to preserve this church forever with the support of our community, state and regional actors”. Ergun Ayik added.
After seven years the bell was rung , a blessing rite was performed, candles were lit, and prayers performed.