The Armenian church in Kars is in the centre of the attention of tourists
22/11/2012
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 21, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian Church of the Twelve Disciples in Kars attracts the attention of both local and foreign tourists due to its historical construction and architecture. As reports “Armenpress” the Director of Culture and Tourism of Kars Hakan Doğanay stated this in a conversation with the reporter of “Anadolu” news agency. The Turkish official cannot deny that the majority of the constructions, which are in the centre of the attention of the tourists, have Armenian origin.
Among other things he stated that King Abas constructed the Armenian Churhc of the Twelve Disciples in Kars during the reign of Bagratuni dynasty, which was later (after the Armenian Genocide in 1915) turned into a mosque. The Turkish official said that the majority of the foreign tourists want to see the Armenian Churhc of the Twelve Disciples in Kars and the ruins of historical Ani.
The thousand-year-old Armenian Church of the Twelve Disciples has not changed its inner and outer appearance. The cross has been removed from the dome of the church and a wooden cathedra has been constructed near the altar for the speeches of mullah inside the church. Notwithstanding the church have been turned into a mosque after the Armenian Genocide, now it does not serve as a Muslim mosque.