Making a speech during the first prayer in the newly restored Surp Krikor Lusarovic Armenian Church, Patriarch Aram Ateshian said, “We are not interested in the opinion of Armenia or Armenian diaspora. We are the citizens of Republic of Turkey.”
Surp Krikor Lusarevic Armenian Church, which was built in 1191, is considered as the first Armenian church in Anatolia. Armenian community restored the building andthe church is opened for worship.
Armenian church opened with the religious ceremony on Sunday, which was leaded by Patriarch of Armenians of Turkey Aram Ateshian.
Armenian citizens from Istanbul and other countries were present in the opening ceremony.
Adressing to the community, Aram Ateshian said that Armenian citizens of Turkey work for the sake of Turkish state. Reminding the words of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, Ateshian said, “You should deserve the citizenship of Republic of Turkey, you should serve, you should pay your taxes, you should serve in the army and you should be loyal to the law.” Ateshian said, “We are not interested in the speeches of diaspora Armenians. We are not interested in the demands of Armenia. We are the citizens of Turkey.”
Ateshian stressed that Armenian people will knock the door of State whenever they got into any trouble. “Of cource, i will seek the solution in this country. I am a son of this land. I am a citizen of this country. There are not any other two nations who wrote poems on each other and shed tears for each other, which was true for Turks and Armenians till 1914. Turkish people cried for thelosses of their Armenian neighbours and Armenian people cried for thelosses of their Turkish neighbours. These two nation were always together against troubles. Afterwards sorrowful events happened and they created trouble. But that is not an obstacle for two nations to stay side by side again. Politicians of two countries may have problems but people do not. Go to any home in Armenia, and you will see that they are watching Turkish TV channels. Because they love here,” said he.
Ateshian said, “Therefore neither Armenians here, nor diaspora Armenians should not drive a wedge between these two nations. There is an Armenian Patriarchate in Turkey. We are connected to Armenia etherally. Our respect to Armenia is infinite. On the other hand, we are not interested in the speech of the a religious leader in Beirut, Jerusalem or Armenia. That is opinion of their own patriarchate.”
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