Mother See expresses indignation over namaz in Ani

The Information Services of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin today released a report expressing indignation over the namaz offered in the Cathedral of Ani the day before.

“We express our indignation over the namaz offered in the Cathedral of Ani on October 1 on the initiative of the Nationalist Movement Party of Turkey and with the permission of the Turkish authorities.

It is a political provocation having nothing in common with religious feelings, freedom of religion, and right to freedom of religion. Meanwhile it is an attempt to deny the Armenian belonging of the Cathedral of Ani which was deserted in consequence of the Armenian Genocide. The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin condemns similar actions which sow seeds of hatred and Armenophobia.

A Christian sacred place must not be provided for offering namaz while Christians are consistently banned to offer church services in their own churches. Thus, the Turkish authorities keep their policy of destruction of Armenian monuments and misappropriation of Armenian sacred places and cultural values.

Thus, Turkey also obviously reduces to nothing efforts of Armenia and international community aimed at establishment of Armenian-Turkish dialogue and normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations,” report said.