Armenian church in Turkey’s southeast awarded EU cultural heritage award
DIYARBAKIR – Anadolu Agency
AA Photo
The Armenian Church of Surp Giragos in Turkey’s southeastern province of Diyarbakir has been awarded the Prize for Cultural Heritage by the European Union.“This church should be known all around the world,” the head of the Surp Giragos Church Foundation, Ergün Ayık, said April 22.
The church was built in 1376 and restored in 2011.
Ayık noted the award was prestigious not only for the church and the region, but also for the whole country.
He stated he was pleased with the fact the church has been saved from destruction and added that six years ago, no one believed the restoration of the church would have taken place.
“Armenians from the U.S., Canada, France, Germany and the Netherlands come here to visit the church,” said Ayik, adding the complex contributed to boosting tourism in the province.
The ceremony for the European Union Cultural Heritage Awards will be held on June 11, in Oslo.
