The Ankara-based General Directorate of Foundations has begun a widespread restoration process which includes some of the 18,500 historical buildings it holds on record in Turkey. Among the edifices marked for restoration this year are eight buildings including Greek Orthodox, Suriyani Catholic, Greek Catholic, and Jewish places of worship.
Restoration efforts for the 6 churches in Adiyaman, Ayvalik, Gokceada, and Iskenderun, as well as a monastery and a synagogue in Edirne are a first for the Foundations Directorate, and for this reason, carry great importance.
Suryani Catholic Church in Iskenderun to return to original form
For the Suryani Catholic Church in Iskenderun marked for restoration, the basic goal of the project is to return the building to its original form after many years in which it has been used as a cinema for local residents. Last year, a Suryani Catholic resident of Iskenderun applied to the Foundations Directorate with a complaint that the former place of worship was now being used as a movie theater that even showed pornographic films.
Speaking about the restoration processes which are now underway, Foundation Directorate head Yusuf Beyazit said “These are places of worship. We have decided to return them to their original forms. When the project is complete, they will appear just as they used to, and we will present to the buildings to the people who composed the communities which used them….These buildings are all of value to us. Our duty is to present these cultures, and these pieces of art, in a protected and saved form to future generations.”
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