A police officer instead of priest in Surb Khach Monastery
11/7/2012
YEREVAN, JULY 10, ARMENPRESS: Surb Khach Monastery , meaning Monastery of the Holy Cross is a medieval Armenian monastery located on the Crimean peninsula near Staryi Krym and founded in 1358. It has been an Armenian spiritual center and a place of pilgrimage for centuries.It’s also the name of the Armenian Cathedral of the Holy Cross, in Lake Van .Surb Khach Monastery is one of the unique architectural masterpieces, which due to its position was able to resist Turk barbarism.
Armenpress reporter at the course of her Western Armenia tour, attended Surb Khach church, built during the rain of King Gagik Artstruni. In accordance to Turkish habit, a Turkish flag was installed there as though reminding us we were in Turkey.
When you descend the island, your legs unwillingly lead you to the church, the single church where a liturgy is allowed to conduct once a year, meeting the demands of international society.
The nearer you approach the church, the more you admire Manvel architect’s brilliant work.
The regrettable fact is there, inside the church we met a Turkish policeman, not a priest, who controlled the church as it was just a simple museum.
