500-year-old Armenian church revival begins in Diyarbakır

500-year-old Armenian church revival begins in Diyarbakır

The church stands as a testament to the region’s rich cultural heritage, currently undergoing crucial restoration efforts to preserve its historical significance

Restoration work has begun on the approximately 500-year-old Surp Sarkis Armenian Church in the central Sur district of Diyarbakır, southeastern Turkey.

In the Alipasha neighborhood, where the church, owned by the Surp Giragos Armenian Church Foundation, had been gradually deteriorating due to the lack of a congregation and sustained damage during the earthquakes centered in Marash on Feb. 6, 2023, a program was organized to mark the start of restoration efforts.

During the program, Sahak Mashalyan, the Patriarch of Armenians, inspected the historic church and offered prayers.

Cemil Koch, director of Surveying and Monuments in Diyarbakır, stated that the church had been used for various purposes by different institutions over the years.

Koch mentioned that the first steps toward revitalizing and restoring the church had been taken in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Governorship. He highlighted that their restoration project, initiated in 2011 and approved in 2022, had taken its first significant step today with a grant of $151,065 from the ministry.

Koch emphasized their commitment to reintegrating the church into Diyarbakır’s culture and tourism, pledging ongoing support from their department throughout all stages of the project.

Mashalyan noted that the church has been part of the area for over 500 years and had become derelict due to abandonment. “It was heartbreaking for us to see the church in this state. It was not something to be proud of for the people of Diyarbakır. In ancient times, the quality and greatness of a civilization were measured by the beauty of their temples or tombs. Therefore, every nation has tried to build the greatest temples according to their faith, starting from the pyramids. Just as our Sourp Giragos Church stands tall as the largest Armenian church in the Middle East, this church has no less significance.”

Mashalyan noted that every time he visits Diyarbakır, he sees concern and effort from officials toward reviving and revitalizing the church, mentioning that these efforts have been ongoing for a long time. “After necessary planning by the Governorship, we were able to start this project with the allocation from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. We would like to express our gratitude to our Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy and ministry staff. The hardest part of any task is starting it. We are initiating this task and request the support of local administrations for the completion of the structure. We will also do our best,” Mashalyan said. “Hopefully, when we gather again in a few years, we will see a different picture. This will be a crowning achievement for our country and Diyarbakır, with the resurrection of a monument. Today is a historic day in this sense.”

Ergun Ayık, president of the Sourp Giragos Armenian Church Foundation, explained that they have developed projects with the support of the Governorship to restore the church and took the first step toward restoration today. “After taking this first step, we will hopefully finalize this place with the financial support we will gather from local administrations, our Governorship, ministries and subsequently from domestic and international communities and benefactors.”

Ayık also mentioned that after restoration, the church area will include eight guesthouses, a conference hall, a priest’s house and three workshops.