Restoration of the 500-year-old Surp Sarkis Armenian Church in Diyarbakır begins

The historic church in the Alipaşa neighborhood, owned by the Surp Giragos Armenian Church Foundation, had deteriorated over time due to the lack of a congregation and was also damaged in the Kahramanmaraş-centered earthquakes on February 6, 2023.

A project was prepared to restore the church through work carried out by the Diyarbakır Survey and Monuments Directorate, using funds provided by the Diyarbakır Investment Monitoring and Coordination Presidency (YİKOB).

Following the approval of the project, restoration work will begin next week at the church with resources transferred by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

'WE AIM TO CONTRIBUTE IT TO OUR COUNTRY'S TOURISM'

Diyarbakır Survey and Monuments Director Cemil Koç told an AA reporter that the church is classified as a first-degree monumental structure.

Stating that the work is the second-largest church belonging to the Armenian community in Diyarbakır after the Surp Giragos Armenian Church, Koç said:

"The structure consists of 5 naves parallel to the apse. It is a church with wide arch spans, covered with a flat earthen roof supported by wooden beams. Especially in recent times, due to both the earthquake and human factors, damage has occurred to the columns and arches in the section we call the women's gallery, which serves as the narthex. With the restoration work we will carry out, we aim to bring the church back to life and contribute it to the tourism of our country and our region."

5 MILLION LIRA GRANT PROVIDED

Explaining that they began project work for the restoration of the structure in 2021, Koç noted that the survey, restoration, static, mechanical, and electrical projects prepared in 2022 were all approved by the conservation board.

Stating that an inspection conducted after the Kahramanmaraş-centered earthquakes determined that the church had sustained heavy damage, Koç added:

"Upon this, a grant of 5 million liras was provided for this year within the scope of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism General Directorate of Cultural Heritage and Museums' Regulation on Assistance to Immovable Cultural Assets. This will be a start for these restoration works. With this grant support from our Ministry, we will have initiated the restoration processes. Afterward, the congregation will continue the restoration of the entire structure with their own resources and contributions to be provided. This work we are doing will actually be the first step toward the revival of the church."

MAŞALYAN IS COMING TO DIYARBAKIR

Koç stated that restoration work will begin next week and pointed out that this will be a long-term process.

"On June 27, Patriarch of the Armenians of Turkey Sahak Maşalyan will visit Diyarbakır. During the visit, there will also be an announcement regarding the provision of financial contributions to the congregation," said Koç, emphasizing that the work will be carried out meticulously.

Surp Giragos Armenian Church Foundation President Ergün Ayık also said that the church is one of the important architectural works in the city and that they had previously prepared restoration projects for the structure, which had suffered damage over time, with the contribution of the Diyarbakır Governorship.

Pointing out that a budget of 5 million liras was allocated for the church due to the damage it sustained in the earthquake as a result of their meetings with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Ayık said, "The assistance provided by the Ministry is very important for taking the first step. We believe that when we start the restoration, significant contributions will be provided by our congregation both in Turkey and abroad. 8 guesthouses, a conference hall, a priest's house, and three workshops will also be built in the church area."

Ayık added that when the restoration of the church is completed, it will also serve the tourism of Diyarbakır.

News Source: AA