Etchmiadzin

The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin has reneged on its previous decision to send at least two of its senior clerics to an upcoming service at a renovated Armenian church in eastern Turkey on Sept. 19 in protest of a decision to postpone the placing of a cross atop the church.

The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, which is considered to be the headquarters of the Armenian Apostolic Church, said on Saturday that it would not take part in the service, Armenian news outlets reported. Karekin II, the Catholicos of All Armenians, in August agreed to send two senior clerics to the church for the service.

The Turkish government agreed to open the 1,100-year-old Cathedral of the Holy Cross on Akdamar, an island in Lake Van, for a one-day religious service on Sept. 19 - an event that could become an annual occurrence.

“The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin learned with regret and disappointment that the placing of the cross on top of the dome of the Church of the Holy Cross at Akdamar is being postponed by the Turkish authorities without cause,” the statement released by the Etchmiadzin said.

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan’s ruling Republican Party of Armenia’s spokesman, Eduard Sharmazanov, denounced in early August the Turkish government’s decision to reopen the church for a one-day religious ceremony as a publicity stunt and “provocation” aimed at misleading the international community.

But a spokesman for Karekin II rejected the boycott calls. “We believe that if we are given an opportunity to cherish a shrine that has functioned for centuries but is devoid of prayer today for some reason, we must use that single day in order to assert our rights and ownership to the shrine through our participation,” Father Vahram Melikian told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL).

The Etchmiadzin said in a statement that it was suspending its representatives participation in the celebration of the service at the Akdamar Church.

The service is to be officiated by Archbishop Aram Ateshyan, who currently leads the Armenian Patriarchate of Istanbul. The church was opened in 2007 following a restoration project by the Turkish government which cost $1.7 million.

Ateshyan announced last week that he had met with the governor of Van, Munir Karaloglu, who said the cross weighs 200 kilograms and it would probably be impossible to have it in place in time for the service. However, the cross would be exhibited for visitors on the same day, Karaloglu said.

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