Sexy fashion shoot at ruined cathedral draws protest from Armenians

The Cathedral of Ani By Sandy Smith 2011-02-01 A Turkish fashion magazine has staged a sexy photo shoot on the grounds of a historic ruined Armenian church, sparking outrage and protest from Armenians worldwide. The church, the Cathedral of the Holy Virgin, was one of the centerpieces of the ancient Armenian capital Ani, which today lies on the Turkish side of the border between Turkey and Armenia. The ruined cathedral has served in recent years as a flashpoint for nationalist sentiments on both sides of the border, with Armenian Christians protesting the site’s neglect and secularization and Turkish nationalists holding Islamic prayer services in the structure.