Turkish Forum

Tag: Armenian Church

  • Istanbul Armenian Church Doors to Open After 100 Year Wait

    Istanbul Armenian Church Doors to Open After 100 Year Wait

    armenian church istanbul

    There have been no religious services in the Istanbul Armenian Surp Vortvots Vorodman Church (Children of Thunder) for the past 100 years. But the doors to the church will finally open this July.

    Deacon Vagharshak told me that the site hadn’t been used as a church since World War I. “The community has been dreaming about renovating the church and in 1987 plans were drafted but the amounts needed were staggering. It remained a dream.”

    Today, renovations on the church are in full swing. After renovations are complete, the church, with its original style intact, will also serve as a cultural center.

    This building was built upon the edict dated February 2, 1828 granted Mahmud II to Kazaz Artin (Harutyun Amira Bezdjiyan); and its plans were drawn by royal architect Kirkor Amira Balyan and M.Devlet Garabet. The compound is comprised of a cathedral (Mother Mary) and two chapels (Surp Khach and Surp Vortvots Vorodman) and opened for services on October 14, 1828.

    The transformation project in this monumental building is targeted to constitute an example for other churches.

    Kevork Karakeuzian, who directs the renovation project, says the cost is 2.7 million Turkish Liras of which 70% has been allocated by the Turkish government. The balance is being contributed by the Istanbul Armenian Patriarchate.

    The entire project was a part of the renovations in the city related to the Istanbul’s run as a 2010 European Capital of Culture. A total of 610 projects were completed with a total budget of 300 million Turkish Liras.

    “What’s really important is that this is the first time that the government has allocated such a large sum for the renovation of a church,” says Karakeuzian.

    Allaying concerns that the renovated structure would be used solely as a cultural center, Mr. Karakeuzian said that religious services could be held and that there would be a place to light candles.

    via Istanbul Armenian Church Doors to Open After 100 Year Wait | Hetq online.

  • Istanbul Armenians sue Turkish ministry and governor’s office

    Istanbul Armenians sue Turkish ministry and governor’s office

    50720Armenians of Istanbul have opened a third case against the Interior Ministry and the Istanbul Governor’s Office over the decision not to permit an election for a new patriarch, Hurriyet Daily News & Economic Review reports.

    The lawsuit was issued by an individual whose name was not made public.

    Last December the initiative group “We want to elect our own patriarch” organized a press conference, saying they want to elect a religious leader who will represent Armenian community.

    Istanbul Armenians collected 5, 359 signatures to oppose Turkish Government’s decision appointing a patriarch vicar replacing current Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople Mesrob Mutafyan.

    Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople Mersrob Mutafyan is permanently ill. One group within the Armenian community considers they should elect a new patriarch, whereas another group, objects to this, saying it is against traditions to elect a new patriarch while the elected one is still alive.

    via Istanbul Armenians sue Turkish ministry and governor’s office | Armenia News – NEWS.am.

  • Turkey’s Armenians facing problems with board’s election

    Turkey’s Armenians facing problems with board’s election

    Turkey’s Armenian community is facing difficulties in electing an administrative board for the Üç Horan Armenian Church Foundation, with some claiming society officials are guilty of discrimination.

    “Armenians from [the Central Anatolian province of] Sivas are dominant in the administrative board, and they do not want Armenians from [the Southeast Anatolian province of Şırnak] and [the Black Sea province of] Sinop to have any influence whatsoever in the community foundations. They call them Kurds. Such discrimination is unacceptable in a 50,000-person community,” Üç Horan Foundation chairman candidate Efrim Bağ told the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review.

    Sarkis Elbe, a prominent member of the Armenian community in Turkey, said the election process has been “painful,” adding that the elections should be open to all members of the Armenian community in Istanbul to prevent problems in future elections.

    Misak Hergel, president of the Istanbul-based Vakıflıköy Armenians Association, also believes that the elections should be open to public. “A general election should be held not only for Beyoğlu but all foundations,” said Hergel. “Many foundations do not have a congregation and the current election process is not fair.”

    The Turkish-Armenian community owns 42 foundations, all of them based in Istanbul. Üç Horan has the largest amount of revenue among them.

    In May 2009 the foundation applied to the General Directorate of Foundations to elect their administrative board. Some, however, said after the polls that the administrative board had conducted an unlawful election for its own ends. The election was canceled and the issue was taken to court.

    The General Directorate of Foundations demanded a new election, which was scheduled for Nov. 21 of this year. However, the same administrative board was found to have unlawfully prepared an election list and the election was postponed again, this time until February.

    The Turkish Armenian community in Istanbul wants the board elections to be open to participation by all members of the community. According to the community’s attorneys, there is no legal impediment to that in the Turkish law for foundations.

    Bağ further said the patriarch’s word used to be considered a holy order, but the lack of a proper patriarch at the moment has complicated the community’s internal affairs.

    “The deputy patriarch invited all the parties to the Patriarchate to discuss the issue, but nobody went. This is openly denying the Patriarchate and its status,” Bağ said.

    Turkish Armenian Patriarch Mesrop II has developed frontal dementia, preventing him from fulfilling his duties. Following intervention by the Turkish Interior Ministry, Archbishop Aram Ateşyan was appointed deputy patriarch.

    Because the current patriarch is still alive, a new patriarch cannot be elected, according to the canon of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

    The Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review called the foundation board to ask for comment about the claims, but the board refused to answer its questions.