Epress.am News from Armenia
A Turkish theatrical performance with Armenian participation, but not a religious show for Turkey, is how ARF (Armenian Revolutionary Federation) Dashnaktsutyun Armenian Cause Bureau Director Kiro Manoyan described the mass that’s to take place in Surb Khatch (Holy Cross) Armenian Church, found on Akhtamar Island on Lake Van in eastern Turkey, on September 19.
In his words, participants from abroad should understand that they are supporting the success of that act of Turkey’s, taking into account, in the first place, the Armenian delegation’s possible participation in the liturgy. According to Manoyan, this, for Turkey, is a “demonstration of political preaching, which takes advantage of Armenians’ religious emotions.”
The ARF member is convinced that this act will have no influence whatsoever on the process of normalizing Armenia-Turkey relations, since it’s simply preaching in nature. Manoyan expressed concern that “Turkey will do that which they did during Surb Khatch’s opening ceremony, when a Turkish flag and Ataturk’s picture was placed on the church.”
Asked whether Yerevan will participate in the ceremony on some level, the Armenian Cause Bureau Director said, “If they haven’t been invited, then it’s meaningless to think about that. It’s clear that they haven’t been invited. I think that [the Mother See of Holy] Etchmiadzin wouldn’t have thought about participating if they hadn’t been invited by the Patriarchate of Constantinople.”
Moreover, Manoyan came up with his own proposal for Turkey: “For us, Surb Khatch remains a church, not a museum, and we say, let’s go and pray there 364 days of the year and let’s leave September 19 for Turkey’s preaching.”