YEREVAN, AUGUST 22, ARMENPRESS: Sahak Mashalian from the Armenian Patriarchate in Istanbul praised Turkish authorities for their latest endeavors to restore some of Armenian historical and cultural monuments scattered across Eastern Anatolia, citing, particularly, the recently launched restoration of Holy t Cross Armenian church on Akhtamar Island in Lake Van denying also allegations that restoration may result in distortion or remodeling of Armenian churches into mosques.
“Just on the contrary, we have to encourage these endeavors of the Turkish authorities,” he told Armenpress, adding also that the Turkish authorities have given up their policy of rebuilding Christian churches into mosques. Father Sahak Mashalian said the Saint Cross Church on Akhtamar island is preserved better than other Armenian churches, ascribing this to its being located on an island. He said the Armenian Patriarchate of Turkey has dispatched a local Armenian architect to supervise the restoration work.
Eastern Turkey was once a heartland of Armenian culture with millions of Armenians living there at the turn of the 19th century. They were all killed and driven out at the beginning of the 20-th century. The Holy Cross church was one of the most important churches of those ancient Armenian lands. It was built by Armenian King Gagik I of Vaspurakan and inaugurated in A.D. 921. Gagik’s historian described it as being near a harbor and a palace with gilded cupolas, peacefully surrounded by the lake. Only the church survived.
By 1113, the church had become the center of the Armenian Patriarchate of Akhtamar and the center of a renowned school of scribal art and illumination. Considered one of the most important examples of Armenian architecture, the church has elaborate reliefs projecting up to 4 inches from brownish-red sandstone walls, almost like sculptures. Some depict biblical stories, such as Jonah being swallowed by the whale and Daniel in the lion’s den.
Yorumlar kapatıldı.