NEWS: Historian Ara Sarafian to attend church ceremony in Turkey's Van

Historian Ara Sarafian to attend church ceremony in Turkey's Van

Saturday, August 21, 2010

VERCİHAN ZİFLİOĞLU

ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News

Ara Sarafian, a historian of Armenian origin, plans to attend the ceremony to be held at Surp Haç church in Van in September. Sarafian says he finds the decision to allow the ceremony positive, unlike much of the Armenian diaspora. ‘Most Turks and Armenians are good people. If they are given the chance, they can resolve their differences. We have that chance now and should not lose it’

With the eastern province of Van preparing to host visitors in September for a ceremony at the historical Surp Haç Church on Akdamar Island, a historian has called on people on both sides to maintain sensible perspectives.

Visitors from both Armenia and the Armenian diaspora are expected to attend to ceremony and historian Ara Sarafian, director of the Gomidas Institute in London, plans to be among them.

"Most Turks and Armenians are good people. If they are given the chance, they can resolve their differences. We have that chance now and should not lose it," Sarafian told Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review. He said Turkey took an important step by granting permission for the ceremony. "Who would have believed 10 years ago that Surp Haç Church would be renovated and a church service held there?"

Playing games and insulting Armenians

According to the Armenian Patriarchate in Istanbul and the Van Governor’s Office, 50,000 people are expected to visit Van for the ceremony. Hotel rooms in the province were booked months ago according to the Van Governor’s Office. Sarafian said he is doubtful of that number. "I hope 50,000 Armenians will come to the ceremony, but I am skeptical. I do not know of anyone in the diaspora who has been invited, so I am more cautious."

The act of opening Surp Haç to worship was discussed thoroughly on the domestic and international agenda. Objections were made both from Turkey and the Armenian diaspora. "Some Armenians insisted that the opening ceremony should be boycotted because Surp Haç was made into a museum and does not bear a cross on its dome," said Sarafian. "They said Prime Minister [Recep Tayyip] Erdoğan was playing games and insulting Armenians."

AKP’s decision is strategic

"Some people are complaining that the Armenian religious ceremony will be just once a year," said Sarafian. "I do not think this is a real problem. I am sure the matter will be re-examined. We should not make the problem appear bigger than it is."

Sarafian said he finds the decision of the Justice and Development Party, or AKP, appropriate despite the objections from Turkey and the diaspora. "Some Turkish groups opposed the placement of a cross and demonstrated against the opening ceremonies. They said Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was 'soft' on the Armenian issue. But Erdoğan has made a correct, strategic decision."

The historical church was renovated in 2007 by the efforts of Atilla Koç, culture and tourism minister at the time. The church was opened after being renovated into a museum and a cross was not placed on the dome. The lack of a cross became the point of a debate of its own for some time. “The cross issue was made into a problem and became a political football. Some people used it for different purposes," said Sarafian. "So was the issue of turning Surp Hac into a museum and not a church. The people who raised these 'problems' either had bad intentions or were simply emotional and not thinking. There was no serious discussion," Sarafian said.

‘Put cards on the table’

Sarafian said he has seen a photograph of the church from the early 20th century without a cross. "I once pointed out that the church didn’t have a cross at the turn of the 20th century and was criticized for it. However, what I said was true and included a photograph. The point I was making was that we needed to put all the cards on the table and discuss them openly.”

Sarafian said it was very important that the church was renovated and standing tall despite all objections. "Perhaps the church will have a cross on it one day. It may even be turned into a church or a monastery as a symbolic gesture from the Turkish government. However, if it is not turned into a church, that is not the end of the world and we should not read anything negative into it. The restoration and maintenance of the church is itself already a significant step and we need to maintain a sensible perspective."