Surp Harutyun Church renovated in central Istanbul
7/10/2010
ISTANBUL – Hürriyet Daily News
Istanbul’s Surp Harutyan Church is renovated and reopened for religious service with a ceremony attended by Şişli Mayor Mustafa Sarıgül and Archbishop Aram Ateşyan, Armenian Patriarch of Turkey. The Mayor says the Şişli Municipality tries to provide clean praying conditions for non-Muslims
Istanbul’s Şişli Municipality renovated the Surp Harutyun Church in the city’s central Beyoğlu district and reopened it for service Thursday with intentions to give equal service to citizens who follow different religion.
Mustafa Sarıgül, mayor of Şişli, participated in the opening ceremony together with the Archbishop Aram Ateşyan, the Armenian patriarch of Turkey. Sarıgül said Şişli tries to provide clean praying conditions for their citizens living in Şişli.
“We renovated the inside of Surp Harutyun as some of the non-Muslim citizens who live in Şişli also come here for prayers,” said Sarıgül.
Stating that the aim of this restoration was to be together without minding religion or sect differences, Sarıgül said the renovation lasted for three months and cost 175,000 Turkish Liras. The renovation architect was Vasken Cemil Barın, who is vice mayor of Şişli and of Armenian origin.
“Citizens with different religious beliefs and cultures have lived together and been friendly for many years. As the local administration, we try to give equal service to all our citizens and provide as many opportunities as possible,” said Sarıgül.
Archbishop Aram Ateşyan said the key to happiness is hidden in sharing more than in taking. He said Sarıgül offered aid to every association with needs without marking a difference between religions, languages or sects.
Noting that they take care of their citizens who pray in mosques, cemevis, churches and synagogues, Sarıgül said their aim is to provide better conditions.
Apik Hayrabedyan, head of the Üçhoran Beyoğlu Ermeni Church, said the floors and windows were changed and the interior and exterior spaces of the church were painted. A member of the association for 30 years, Hayrabedyan said only weddings and baptism ceremonies are performed in Surp Harutyun Church.
Appreciating the efforts of Sarıgül, Hayrabedyan, who takes care of the church’s maintenance, said last year Sarıgül also renovated another Armenian church in the Beyoğlu area.
Until now, Şişli has renovated two mosques in Istanbul’s Ayazağa and Gülbağ neighborhoods, a cemevi in Okmeydanı, and the Feriköy and Üç Horon churches in Beyoğlu.
The renovation of Armenian church in Istanbul comes amid a larger trend in the country toward renovating churches and opening them for services. A historic religious ceremony was held Sept. 19 at the Armenian Surp Haç Church in eastern Turkey after 95 years and thousands of people came for the service. Even though no cross was placed on its dome during the ceremony, the cross was put on the church’s dome afterward.
According to local officials, the church did not have the appropriate permission from the Van Chamber of Commerce and Industry to erect the cross. While the church considered the patriarchate responsible for the cross, the exclusion of Armenian experts increased tensions.
