Beginning in 2006 when Turkey announced the proposed restoration of the Holy Cross Church (Sourp Khatch) on Akhtamar Island in Lake Van and continuing through Sept. 19, 2010 when the Armenian Patriarchate of Istanbul held religious services there at the invitation of the Turkish authorities, Akhtamar represented a carefully choreographed public relations offensive by the Turkish government.
Akhtamar should provide sufficient proof that Islamist Prime Minister Erdogan’s mindset with respect to Armenia and Armenians is no different than that of the anti-Islamist Ataturk who was given carte blanche by the victorious World War I allies to bring “order” to central Anatolia, allowing him to continue the Ottoman Turkish-inspired genocide of the Armenian nation. In return for bringing order to Anatolia, Ataturk’s ill-conceived reward came in the Treaty of Lausanne, which created the present-day Turkish republic at the expense of a free and independent Armenia. Article 42 of the treaty was offered as a sop to compensate the devastated remnant population of the Armenian nation for the genocide that took some 1.5 million innocent Armenian lives and the loss of Armenia’s historic western provinces. Specifically, Article 42 required “(t)hat the Turkish government…grant full protection to the [Armenian] churches…cemeteries, and other religious establishments…” During the intervening nine decades, every Turkish government has blatantly ignored this obligation without fear of any repercussions or reprisals whatsoever.
Despite this unfortunate reality, some Armenians and Armenian organizations and institutions still refuse to accept the fact that the philosophy of today’s Turkish leadership is no different than that of their political and military progenitors. The existence today of a free and independent Armenia is a constant reminder to the present Turkish leadership that the planned annihilation of the Armenian people was unsuccessful. What is perhaps more exasperating to the Turkish leadership is that the final solution to the Armenian Question that the genocide was to have resolved remains, a century later, a question that still confronts them.
The Turkish public relations gambit at Akhtamar is symptomatic of this ingrained anti-Armenian ideology that permeates the thinking of Turkish leaders in the past, presently, and perhaps forever. Was it expected that, like beggars, we would be grateful for the permission granted by the Turkish authorities to hold religious services in what was once our own sacred property that they had taken from us? And now that a Christian cross finally graces what is a Turkish museum, are we expected to rejoice? How grotesque.
According to the Oct. 9 issue of the Armenian Weekly (“Sourp Khatch Church of Akhtamar Gets Its Cross”), “…the failure of the Turkish authorities to place the cross on the church before the service [on Sept. 19] caused high and low level boycott of the service on the part of the Armenians.”
Am I missing something here? Was the absence of a Christian cross the reason for the boycott? I would have thought the more likely basis was that the Divine Liturgy would not be performed in the Sorp Hac (Sourp Khatch) Turkish museum. The same Turkish authority that desecrated the Armenian Sourp Khatch Church is the same authority granting permission to allow religious services to be held. If this isn’t Kafkaesque, tell me what is?
Our myopia has prevented us from seeing nothing more than genocide recognition as the one vital interest of the Armenian nation. Valuable time, effort, and resources have been dedicated to this end while Turkey has been allowed to flout Article 42 contrary to their treaty obligation. Every Turkish government bears responsibility for the historic Armenian religious artifacts and sites that have been destroyed, allowed to decay, pillaged, or used for purposes that mock their Christian purpose. While this has been ongoing for decades, the obsessive determination to have the Armenian Genocide recognized by the United States Congress as well as other governments has prevented us from allocating resources to challenge Turkey on Article 42 in the court of world opinion and relevant venues where it is vulnerable.
We have failed miserably to develop a comprehensive program, consistently implemented and persuasively presented in all the appropriate venues that would call attention to this policy of cultural eradication and revisionism that is nothing more than an extension of Ottoman Turkey’s genocide of the Armenian nation.
Eliminating the Armenian population and then the cultural artifacts that attested to their occupation of the land went hand-in-hand. This has been a common practice in Azerbaijan. And in Georgia the policy of economic, political, cultural, and religious discrimination represents a form of cultural genocide. Armenians either acculturate or eventually leave. In this context one can understand the comment by Georgia’s Foreign Minister Grigol Vashadze who recently stated, “I don’t know what Javakhk is. There is no Javakhk region on the map.” Obviously not, if the Tbilisi government has decided to eliminate the name of this historic Armenian region.
It was unfortunate that the Patriarchate of Istanbul felt compelled to accept the Turkish government’s invitation to hold divine liturgical services at the Turkish museum at Sorp Hac. We will assume that the decision was made to protect the Armenians of Turkey from any type of overt or covert reprisals by the government rather than on a belief that this was the proper response.
If the Patriarchate of Istanbul must respond to a different set of facts in its decision to hold services, this did not preclude the Holy See at Etchmiadzin and the House of Cilicia, in concert, to explain in detail their reasons for not participating. Hopefully their refusal would have been based on more substantive reasons than the absence of a Christian cross (which was later provided by the Turkish authorities). Their explanation would have been invaluable in calling world-wide attention to the series of events at Akhtamar as a purely public relations ploy and Turkey’s failure to honor its treaty obligations under Article 42 of the Treaty of Lausanne. Akhtamar represented an excellent opportunity for Turkey’s hypocrisy to have been exposed. But again, I must have missed something.
Michael Mensoian
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Michael, you hit the nail on the head. The Armenian “reconciliation” crowd just doesn’t get it.
I really think that if Turkey put a McDonald’s hambuger franchise inside Akhtamar and turned the church into a food mall, the same Armenians who showed up in September would fly to Turkey and order a Big Mac.
Next thing, Turkey is going to allow Armenians to do a Halloween hay ride on some old Armenian farm, and the “reconciliation” crowd will sing Turkey’s praises.
It’s amazing, Turkey outright flouts the Treaty of Lausanne, and Europe pays no attention at all (even though the latter are signatories), and Armenians and Armenia pay no attention.
Mensonian does not like the things that going on recently. Because, things are getting better for both sides, which he does not like.
My issue with this article is comparing Turkey’s current regime to Atatürk’s. HUGE difference. Yes, both deeply considered the Armenian “others” who did not belong to the nation, but this was expressed in very different ways. Atatürk’s rise occurred in a post-war power vacuum when killing hundreds of thousands of Christian minorities was a viable tool in consolidating Turkey’s “territorial and national” integrity. This could NEVER happen today. Turkey could never kill hundreds of thousands of Armenians today to just get rid of them. You never say they did. But you never say they didn’t. In our over-emotional Armenian media, we need to measure our words and consider the implications of our historical comparisons.
The tactics of today’s regime are far more subtle and don’t involve overt acts of violence. So please, let us draw this distinction, because for many students of Armenian history, Atatürk achieved power through a campaign of mass murder. And to compare today’s regime to Atatürk implies a great deal of bloodshed that simply has not occurred. Of course I acknowledge the tragic nature of Hrant Dink’s murder and the desecration of Akhtamar, but this is not equivalent to murdering hundreds of thousands of Armenians.
I like your article. I’m just nit picking your second paragraph. That’s all. Don’t take it personal.
Today’s regime seeks to consolidate and expand its power through subtle tactics of cultural neglect and erosion.
We need to do a better job of analyzing Armenian paranoia against the Turkish regime.
Point of information: The column refers to Oct. 9 issue of the Armenian Weekly (“Sourp Khatch Church of Akhtamar Gets Its Cross“).
Has anyone taken a picture of the cross on Holy Cross? Why haven’t we seen it? How do we know there is a cross on the church right now? Thank you.
Yes, sadly, Etchmiadzin, Jerusalem, groups in Armenia and certain groups in the Diaspora only boycotted the Mass because the cross was not there… Had it been there, thousands would have poured to Van.
One should not forget, however, the clear and principled position of the ARF and Antelias on this issue from day 1.
Raffi wrote this:
“Turkey could never kill hundreds of thousands of Armenians today to just get rid of them.”
Yes, Raffi, Turkey could never do this because Turkey doesn’t have hundreds of thousands of Armenians left to kill. They were murdered in the Genocide. Do you recall that event? Happened around 1915. Before you were born, Read about it sometime.
In Turkey, about the only overt Armenians who are left are a few tens of thousands of cowed, frightened people in Bolis. The Turks wiped out the Greeks and Assyrians too.
In effect, there are no more Christians left to kill. There are, of course, Kurds and maybe some other minorities to kill. Raffi, are you aware of the demographics of today’s Turkey?
As to whether Turkey could kill people outright and get away with it, it can and has.
It has done it to Kurds. K-u-r-d-s. Heard of them?
Turkey has murdered Greek and Armenian Cypriots. Azerbaijan tried to murder Armenians in Artsakh. It killed many but was stopped in the end.
There is nothing to stop Turkey from doing whatever it wants. What, the EU and US are going to send troops into Turkey to stop mass bloodshed? No one will. That is the lesson – a history lesson that some people just will never understand.
Raffi Wartanian:
This could NEVER happen today?
Are you living in a vacuum? The genocide continues today but much more subtly. Closing off the borders to land locked Armenia isn’t genocde? Routing commerce away from Armenia isn’t genocide? So now we have cultural genocde and commercial genocide. Much more palatble to oil consuming western nations. Cross or no cross, Turkey continues to turn the screws on the Armenians. When we have irrefutable proof of desecration of the cemetary in Julfa, were there any outcries from the west? Were there any outcries from the United Nations? If you think Armenians aren’t suffering and dying as a direct result of Turkish actions, you haven’t been to Hayastan.
To me this whole Akhtamar Cathedral fiasco by Turks is like if Germans before accepting guilt, admitting crime, begging apology, and paying restitutions to Jews; invite them to a tour at Auschwitz and Dachau which I’m sure Jews were going to spit on their face and walk away.
It is very sad and shameful to see that some Armenians by creating some self comforting excuses convinced themselves to attend and participate in this Turkish anti Christ and anti Armenian propaganda.
Is there any proof that Sourp Khatch has a cross on it as we speak? If so, please provide it. Thank you.
bravo michael,
i couldn’t have said it any better myself,
and thank you to the numerous passionate, pro commentators,
ketsteq hayrenaser zharangordner
as for the few pseudo optimist… i have a few choice words for you but now is not the time, no armenian should bicker with another armenian regarding matters concerning the turks, at least not right now, the time for accountability will come after we achive the justice that we the armenian people deserve, at the moment we need all the collective power and energy to overcome this vile enemy,
as for ahmet efendi…i just love your take…so you really think things are getting better on both sides, by the way, what planet do you live on currently????
Diran,
Yes there are some photos around and in one of those pictures you can clearly see that they have installed something like antenna at the top of the cross making it stand higher than the cross itself.
Ahmet,
What made you think things are getting better for Turks where FM Nalbandian blasted on Turks earlier this week; it seems to me that you are not following the events and here and there by reading articles like this you just throw some nonsense as replies.
How can you forget that at the moment Armenian President’s plane took off from Yerevan to London; while still in Turkish air space by his unexpected comment turned the Armenian/Turkish Protocol to a piece of paper (thinking twice; sorry maybe the Turkish censorship didn’t make that news public).
It’s been a while that Turks did realize the power and solidarity of the Armenians in Diaspora in regard of the Armenian Genocide; and after their (Turk’s) Western Bosses managed to force Armenia to sign the protocol; for a short while they started celebrating the temporary gap that the protocol was able to create not just between Armenian and Diaspora but also for creating a distance between Armenian political organizations in Diaspora.
After the Armenian President returned from his historic trip to London; because of his comments; for Turks all those joyful moments turned to a taboo, almost all those above mentioned damages were nullified and his popularity in Armenia and Diaspora jumped to the sky.
If Turks still have their copy of the Protocol and are hoping that their Western Bosses will be able to drag the Armenia behind that table again; that’s wishful thinking, Turks should archive that protocol and shouldn’t bother; because Armenia is not interested anymore.
Osik,
If you have any links or references that will take me to those pictures I would appreciate having them. Thanks.
Is this a church or a Turkish propaganda circus????
Osik and anyone else: Given the lack of response to my question I have to conclude that there is no solid evidence that a cross stands on top of Sourp Khatch Church on Akhtamar right now, which in turn makes me question the source of the Oct. 9th AW article on same. If I am wrong please promptly let me know. It seems to me that after all the controversy about the cross the Turkish government and press would have gone out of their way to publish a prominent picture of the church with the cross on top for the world press.
For a news blip and a picture of the church with its new cross see link below:
http://www.sabah.com.tr/Yasam/2010/10/02/akdamar_kilisesinin_haci_takildi
More:
http://hurarsiv.hurriyet.com.tr/goster/ShowNew.aspx?id=15925994
More:
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=-2010-10-03
Of course it is not the same as eyeballing it personally…
Thank you Murat! Yes, eyeballs are best.
Dear Diran,
I’m sorry for delay, I was busy couldn’t spend more time looked around a little but was not successful .
It was in an article in this site or http://www.asbarez.com or http://www.news.am check the old ones I’m sure you will find it unless for some reason all were removed.
Regards.
PS, There were several, look for the one that has an antenna higher than the cross, you see I remember that strange antenna and couldn’t be fabricating it.
Thank you Osik. I didn’t find the picture with the antenna, but that’s OK. I take your word for it.
Mr. Mensoian, I don’t want to be unnecessarily harsh, but…what you may have missed is that western Armenia was conquered and disappeared under the heel of the conqueror some 900 years ago, and in Cilicia about 600 years ago. So yes, we know how it feels to be conquered, subjugated and turned into refugees on our own land, but that is the lot of those who have lost political control of their territory. Akhtamar is a monument to all those Armenians who came before, as well as of those who gave their lives, creativity and genius to build and support successive Turkish empires. So, although much of our culture in Anatolia has disappeared as a result of neglect, ethnic cleansing and worse, the fact that Turkey made an effort with Akhtamar, for whatever reason, is worth celebrating. Of course, it’s not the same as full ownership, and it really defines the concept of ‘bittersweet’, but hopefully this small step is one of many yet to come. We can only hope and also, help in that regard, because the alternative is much worse.
Mr. Karekin, Western Armenia didn’t disappear under the heel of the conqueror some 900 years ago. Many independent Armenian principalities existed up until the 16th century when loathed Ottoman Turks occupied it. Also, exactly what effort Turkey has with Akhtamar? Converted a house of worship to museum—then to a church for two hours—and then back to a museum? You call it an “effort”? What did this effort essentially change? That a 10th-century Armenian church, when the notion of “Turks” was non-existent, continues to function as a museum that carries no annotation plague as to who built the structure, when, and, most importantly, what happened to its parishioners? Lastly, we’ve already seen a much worse “alternative” for us from Turks: our homeland is wiped out of millions of people, thousands of cultural edifices, and the murderer-nation is still unrepentant. What worse alternative can there be?
Karo, I am not disputing anything Armenian, believe me. However, if the Turkish government had not stepped in to restore Akhtamar church, we might be faced with another pile of stones, rather than a majestic monument to Armenian culture, tradition and architectural genius in Anatolia. Conquerors, empires and politicians come and go….this church has been standing for more than 1000 years. It was worth saving, no matter who did it or why, even if there are no Armenians nearby to support it. And by the way, this was originally a vank…there was no ‘community’ on the island…it got its support from the people of Van. That community no longer exists, so how do you propose that this church maintain itself, hold a weekly badarak, etc.? You seem to ignore all the practical realities of operating a living church, which requires people to keep it alive.
“I am not disputing anything Armenian, believe me.” I don’t.
“If the Turkish government had not stepped in to restore Akhtamar church, we might be faced with another pile of stones.” Was it not the same Turkish government that allowed almost 3000 other Armenian churches to become piles of stones? Do you generally tend to see the forest or you just the trees?
“And by the way, this was originally a vank…there was no ‘community’ on the island.” I meant community living around the island, i.e. Armenians of our province of Van.
“That community no longer exists.” And what is the reason that the community no longer exists? Did the people just evaporate?
“How do you propose that this church maintain itself, hold a weekly badarak, etc.?” By granting a historical preservation site status by the Turkish government and by transferring all of the Armenians churches and monasteries or their remnants, I should say, under the jurisdiction of the Armenian Patriarchate in Constantinople.
“You seem to ignore all the practical realities of operating a living church, which requires people to keep it alive.” There WERE people who kept all our churches alive, all of them were massacred or forcibly deported by Turks. You seem to ignore causal relationships.
Of course, the people did not just evaporate, but the reality is they are not there now, and just as in many other countries (i.e., India, to name just one), if there is no longer a community to maintain a religious structure, it reverts to the state. I’m not saying this is right or good, just that it’s the way it is. Do you think the patriarchate has the funds to maintain Akhtamar in perpetuity? Would it make sense for them to post a lone der hayr there, to live a medieval, monastic life w/ no community? The Armenian church does not operate like the Vatican or the Catholic church…which can maintain outposts due to its vast funding. When it rains, we need to raise an umbrella ourselves….because there is no one else to hold it for us.
Turks must place all our religious/cultural edifices under the jurisdiction of the Patriarchate and under the protection of the state. This, and not a masquerade with church-museum-church for 2 hr-museum, will be considered a substantial step at rapprochement. Who will maintain our own churches and fund them will then become OUR problem for which many Armenians, I’m certain, will allocate funds.
And why not return Akhtamar to the Patriarchate? It would be able to sustain itself with the flood of tourists from across the world as a symbol of our historic homeland. Given the opportunity, I would surely visit this reminder of my parents’ homeland. Under the present circumstances, I have no intention of visiting any property confiscated by the Turks. I wish some Armenians would stop being so pessimistic about the possibilities. The dream still lives on. The solution lies in the hands of the Turkish Republic.
We all have some reason.”Todos tenemos razon” s the spanish saying goes..that is the spanish of Javier Solana(two term FM of the EU)who was standing next to State Sec.Hillary Clinton and Mr. Lavrov of RF (Russian Federation).Meaning,diplomacy dictates in many modalities.We cannot afford to stick to just one of these.Be flexible,changeable,sometimes accomodating ,sometimes opposing,also compromising!!!
Now then karekin fits into this category,i.e. his way of thinking/speculating,whereas Karo is of the category,like he begins one sentence,directed to turks/great Turkey with a “MUST”.Why latter did not take that even from their topmost important ally ,uncle Sam..remember? how can one be that forgetfull or not au currant of day to day happenings ..especially those that concern Armenidad!!!please keep abreast of news re not only Armenia/Armenians but also great Turkey…
En fin…. to cut it short try to MAKE THE MOST of what is affirmative to us and leave out the negative. There was this question by Harut Sassounian not long ago..”Who won ,turks or Armenians-re Akhtamar of course.To which I replied we did.Indeed I did not approve of the word “won” in this case. it was a well planned yet another of those toikish TARC-like or Carnegie hall(latest) tricks,to which one cannot apply word win,but rather who “gained”..We certainly did Karekin,you´re right..and I add…FREE int´l T.V. and press coverage as to Aghtamar being an Armenian monastery/church,where turks did somehow condescend to place Cross on it at end and also allow Armens to visit it.
Yes we did gain there.So much so that just a bit later their ultras could not stand it and held “namaz” at ANI….
No time for bickering between -amongst us .Carry on with nation making.Like we have already thanks to 1st,2nd and 3rd Republics of Armenia and Artsakh.
One last “suggestion” if I may, do let us at least contemplatge in putting our own house in Diaspora in order to come up to a Supreme Council..
Darwin Thank you for your comment, I coppied the following here:
It is very sad and shameful to see that some Armenians by creating some self comforting excuses convinced themselves to attend and participate in this Turkish anti Christ and anti Armenian propaganda.
From my previous comment.
Gaytzag, what is the supreme council that you are referring to? A church council?
I agree with your constructive, forward looking attitude and that we need to bicker less amongst ourselves. But I think you are hard on Karo.
To All: I think we should all be frank about how easy it is to be safely ensconced in the Diaspora and make thunderous pronouncements about what Armenians should or shouldn’t do in Van. I share the general distrust of Turkish policy, and certainly on the issue of Aghtamar it has made a mockery of itself. I just think we should all pause for a minute and look at things from the point of view of the Armenians who still exist in Turkey. They are the ones whose lives are immediately affected by what happens or doesn’t happen in Van and Aghtamar. Can they be denied the hope of a better day in their native land?
Boyajian,is it Dave Boyajian?
Anyhow.Please re read my above post.Nowhere have I been hard on anypone,inclusive of Karo.I allowed myself,rrather indulged myself in categorizing two different viewpoints-see above-one that is flexible the other a bit hard(karo).I still believe we have to behave exsactly in a fashion that Karekin and self suggest with the bully.The word “must” was out of place as described,since they the bully(s) turkish diplomats do not accept that not even from their most important ally(s)…
As to my proposed “Supreme council of the Diaspora(s)” it is my brainchild if I may say so,developed re developed since over 31 years.it was first disclosesd(published) in Asbarez year 1968/69 under title “Four Preconditions for the Armenian diaspora” then repeated in Nor gyank,Armenian Reporter in 1983(a bit more developed) under title “Projections on a New Statute for the Armenian Diaspora”.In very brief format now for you and others-with pleasure- as follows:- Establishment of “Professional Colleagues Associations” in All Diaspora country communities(Five on the scene already9 The Health /medical,The Engineersw& Sciences,the BAR,The sportive and Jewellers(laater to enlap furnishings.The ten more such as Banking& Finance, The Construction field,Agricultural,Environmental& Forestry,Industries and Mines,Travel& Transport,Communication IT,Media and Advertising, Education& cultural(amalgamation of all existing),Food and Catering,a few more..then Aside electing in all Armenian-desne townships their Board, they Elect(as my Novelty) 3 person delegates,each endowed with one of 3 following Merits:-One most advanced in his7her prof.,One culturally,Nat´l,Int´l & w/networking capacity,Third, most economically advanced.Note.-one compliments other 2.This will be the Inter-professional Colleagues Elite.then invite 3 person ea fromour Political parties and one ea from Spiritual denominations, Catholic.,Apostolic and presbiteryan, THUS REAL PARTICIPATION AND REPRESENTATION,is attained.
From all sadi townships delegates,one from ea to capital city to Central Council and on…to Supreme Council with 5 dept.s Legal political in Strasbourg(next to RA Delegate,not sitting with him but in same town,Executive in N.Y. next to RA U.N rep.Econo,mic in Geneva CH,Social Services and future Repatriations8from near abroad) to RE/Artsakhj in Moscow,last we have Thios one ..Spiritual Supreme in St.Etchmiadzin in conjunction with Great House of Cilicia.All Central Councils in constant contact with the supreme Council´s 5.More details if asked for.
PLEASE FORGET -for the moment-ALL ABOVE AND GO GET HOLD OF “the Economist”Oct.16,2010 issue .Go to page 64 and admire both the MAP there and the article entitled “The abominable gas man”. Armenia on map?,why yes indeed,depicted as a pair(Danzagot) no Erivan or Armenia boxed in ,squeezed in between Georgia ,Azerbaijan,Iran and Turkey and guess what ?
It is all about future Gaspipeline,ZIG Zagging ,as proposed with different Routes(never through Armenia,of course) with names such as the Nabuco,AGRI,Trans Adriatic,Trans Caspiran etc.,did I say Armenia?…what is Armenia an apple, a pair or what.
If asked to know why to whom (English speaking rather),latter would say in coloquial pure English, “YOU ARE NOT WANTED HERE::::
Asdvadz mez pergeh Ays Otsadznoundnere…..
Vochinch chuzecink,,,,,,miayn mez hangist Tsgetseg,Karyuxn al dzezi pipeline transitn a
l