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{{Short description|Island in Lake Van, eastern Turkey}}
{{Infobox islands
{{Infobox islands
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'''Akdamar Island''' ({{lang-tr|Akdamar Adası}}), also known as '''Aghtamar'''<ref>{{cite book|last1=de Waal|first1=Thomas|authorlink1=Thomas de Waal|title=Great Catastrophe: Armenians and Turks in the Shadow of Genocide|date=2015|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-935069-8|page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=4qKbBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA7 7]|quote=The island of Aghtamar on the inland sea of Lake Van is home to one of the most famous of all Armenian churches, a tenth-century cathedral...}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Adalian|first=Rouben Paul|title=Historical Dictionary of Armenia|year=2010|publisher=Scarecrow Press|location=Lanham, Maryland|isbn=978-0-8108-7450-3|authorlink=Rouben Paul Adalian|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=QS-vSjHObOYC&pg=PA74 74]|quote=AGHTAMAR. Island in Lake Van and location of one of the most important architectural monuments of medieval Armenia.}}</ref> ({{lang-hy|Աղթամար}})<ref>{{cite book|last1=Avetisyan|first1=Kamsar|authorlink1=:hy:Կամսար Ավետիսյան|title=Հայրենագիտական Էտյուդներ [Notes on Armenian Studies]|date=1979|publisher=Sovetakan grogh|location=Yerevan|language=hy|p=196|chapter=Աղթամար}}</ref> or '''Akhtamar'''<ref>{{cite news|title=Apricot and almond trees blossomed on Akhtamar Island of Lake Van|url=https://armenpress.am/eng/news/715006|agency=[[Armenpress]]|date=12 April 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|editor1-last=Knight|editor1-first=Charles|editor1-link=Charles Knight (publisher)|title=Geography: Or, First Division of "The English Encyclopædia"|date=1866|publisher=Bradbury, Evans & Co.|location=London|page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=gwZQAAAAMAAJ&pg=PT47 519]|chapter=Lake Van|quote=There are some small islands in the lake, the principal of which is Akhtamar...}}</ref> ({{lang-hy|Ախթամար}}),<ref>{{cite news|script-title=hy:Վերանորոգումից հետո Վանի Ախթամար եկեղեցու բացումը տեղի կունենա սեպտեմբերին|url=https://armenpress.am/arm/news/21187|agency=[[Armenpress]]|date=17 July 2006|language=hy}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Tumanyan|first1=Hovhannes|authorlink1=Hovhannes Tumanyan|title=Ախթամար [Akhtamar]|url=http://www.toumanian.am/toumanian/html/stegts/poem_legend/axtamar.html|website=toumanian.am|publisher=Hovhannes Tumanyan Museum|language=hy|date=1891}}</ref> is the second largest of the four islands in [[Lake Van]], in eastern Turkey. About 0.7&nbsp;km² in size, it is situated about 3&nbsp;km from the shoreline. At the western end of the island a hard, grey, limestone cliff rises 80 m above the lake's level (1,912 m above sea level). The island declines to the east to a level site where a spring provides ample water. It is home to the 10th century Armenian [[Armenian Cathedral of the Holy Cross|Holy Cross Cathedral]], which was the seat of the [[Armenian Apostolic Church|Armenian Apostolic]] [[Catholicosate of Aghtamar]] from 1116 to 1895.
'''Akdamar Island''' ({{langx|tr|Akdamar Adası}}), also known as '''Aghtamar'''<ref>{{cite book|last1=de Waal|first1=Thomas|author-link1=Thomas de Waal|title=Great Catastrophe: Armenians and Turks in the Shadow of Genocide|date=2015|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-935069-8|page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=4qKbBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA7 7]|quote=The island of Aghtamar on the inland sea of Lake Van is home to one of the most famous of all Armenian churches, a tenth-century cathedral...}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Adalian|first=Rouben Paul|title=Historical Dictionary of Armenia|year=2010|publisher=Scarecrow Press|location=Lanham, Maryland|isbn=978-0-8108-7450-3|author-link=Rouben Paul Adalian|page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=QS-vSjHObOYC&pg=PA74 74]|quote=AGHTAMAR. Island in Lake Van and location of one of the most important architectural monuments of medieval Armenia.}}</ref> ({{langx|hy|Աղթամար|translit=Aġt’amar}})<ref>{{cite book|last1=Avetisyan|first1=Kamsar|author-link1=:hy:Կամսար Ավետիսյան|title=Հայրենագիտական Էտյուդներ [Notes on Armenian Studies]|date=1979|publisher=Sovetakan grogh|location=Yerevan|language=hy|page=196|chapter=Աղթամար}}</ref> or '''Akhtamar'''<ref>{{cite news|title=Apricot and almond trees blossomed on Akhtamar Island of Lake Van|url=https://armenpress.am/eng/news/715006|agency=[[Armenpress]]|date=12 April 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|editor1-last=Knight|editor1-first=Charles|editor1-link=Charles Knight (publisher)|title=Geography: Or, First Division of "The English Encyclopædia"|date=1866|publisher=Bradbury, Evans & Co.|location=London|page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=gwZQAAAAMAAJ&pg=PT47 519]|chapter=Lake Van|quote=There are some small islands in the lake, the principal of which is Akhtamar...}}</ref> ({{langx|hy|Ախթամար|translit=Axt’amar|link=no}};<ref>{{cite news|script-title=hy:Վերանորոգումից հետո Վանի Ախթամար եկեղեցու բացումը տեղի կունենա սեպտեմբերին|url=https://armenpress.am/arm/news/21187|agency=[[Armenpress]]|date=17 July 2006|language=hy}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Tumanyan|first1=Hovhannes|author-link1=Hovhannes Tumanyan|title=Ախթամար [Akhtamar]|url=http://www.toumanian.am/toumanian/html/stegts/poem_legend/axtamar.html|website=toumanian.am|publisher=Hovhannes Tumanyan Museum|language=hy|date=1891|access-date=2016-08-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011011655/http://www.toumanian.am/toumanian/html/stegts/poem_legend/axtamar.html|archive-date=2016-10-11|url-status=dead}}</ref> {{langx|ku|Girava Axtamarê}}{{citation needed |date=July 2024}}), is the second largest of the four main islands in [[Lake Van]], in eastern [[Turkey]]. About 0.7 km<sup>2</sup> in size, it is situated approximately 3 km from the shoreline. At the western end of the island, a hard, grey, limestone cliff rises 80 m above the lake's level (1,912 m above sea level). The island declines to the east to a level site where a spring provides ample water.
It is home to the 10th century Armenian [[Armenian Cathedral of the Holy Cross|Holy Cross Cathedral]], which was the seat of the [[Armenian Apostolic Church|Armenian Apostolic]] [[Catholicosate of Aghtamar]] from 1116 to 1895.


== Etymology ==
== Etymology ==
[[File:Waiting eternally for her love, Sevan, Armenia.jpg|thumb|left|A statue of princess Tamara waiting for her love, near [[Sevan Lake]], Armenia. The author is Armenian-American sculptor Rafael Petrosyan.]]
[[File:Waiting eternally for her love, Sevan, Armenia.jpg|thumb|left|A statue of princess Tamar waiting for her love, near [[Lake Sevan|Sevan Lake]], Armenia. The author is Armenian-American sculptor Rafael Petrosyan.]]
The origin and meaning of the island's name is unknown,<ref>Sirarpe Der Nersessian, "Aght'amar, Church of the Holy Cross", page 1.</ref> but a folk etymology explanation exists, based on an old Armenian legend.<ref name="culturalheritage"/> According to the tale, an Armenian princess named ''Tamara'' lived on the island and was in love with a commoner. This boy would swim from the shore to the island each night, guided by a light she lit for him. Her father learned of the boy's visits. One night, as she waited for her lover to arrive, he smashed her light, leaving the boy in the middle of the lake without a guide to indicate which direction to swim. He drowned and his body washed ashore and, as the legend concludes, it appeared as if the words ''"Akh, Tamara" (Oh, Tamara)'' were frozen on his lips.<ref>{{in lang|hy}} Dzotsikian, S. M. ''Արեւմտահայ Աշխարհ'' (''The World of the Western Armenian''). New York: S. M. Dzotsikian Jubilee Committee, 1947, pp. 678-79.</ref><ref>Kudian, Mischa. ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=1JVkAAAAMAAJ Soviet Armenian Poetry]''. London: Mashtots Press, 1974, p. 4.</ref> The legend was the inspiration for a well-known 1891 poem by [[Hovhannes Tumanyan]].<ref>{{in lang|hy}} Tumanyan, Hovhannes. ''Ախթամար'' (''Akhtamar''). Yerevan: Hayastan Publishing, 1969.</ref>
The origin and meaning of the island's name is unknown,<ref>Sirarpe Der Nersessian, "Aght'amar, Church of the Holy Cross", page 1.</ref> but a folk etymology explanation exists, based on an old Armenian legend.<ref name="culturalheritage"/> According to the tale, an Armenian princess named ''Tamar'' lived on the island and was in love with a commoner. This boy would swim from the shore to the island each night, guided by a light she lit for him. Her father learned of the boy's visits. One night, as she waited for her lover to arrive, her father smashed her light, leaving the boy in the middle of the lake without a guide to indicate which direction to swim. He drowned and his body washed ashore and, as the legend concludes, it appeared as if the words ''"Akh, Tamar" (Oh, Tamar)'' were frozen on his lips.<ref>{{in lang|hy}} Dzotsikian, S. M. ''Արեւմտահայ Աշխարհ'' (''The World of the Western Armenian''). New York: S. M. Dzotsikian Jubilee Committee, 1947, pp. 678-79.</ref><ref>Kudian, Mischa. ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=1JVkAAAAMAAJ Soviet Armenian Poetry]''. London: Mashtots Press, 1974, p. 4.</ref> The legend was the inspiration for a well-known 1891 poem by [[Hovhannes Tumanyan]].<ref>{{in lang|hy}} Tumanyan, Hovhannes. ''Ախթամար'' (''Akhtamar''). Yerevan: Hayastan Publishing, 1969.</ref>


Akdamar (meaning "white vein" in Turkish) is the official name of the island.
The similar-sounding '''Akdamar''' (meaning "white vein" in Turkish) has since become the official name of the island.


== History ==
== History ==
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[[File:Akhtamar Island on Lake Van with the Armenian Cathedral of the Holy Cross.jpg|thumb|General view of Akdamar Island in springtime.]]
[[File:Akhtamar Island on Lake Van with the Armenian Cathedral of the Holy Cross.jpg|thumb|General view of Akdamar Island in springtime.]]


During his reign, King [[Gagik I Artsruni]] (r. 908-943/944) of the Armenian [[Kingdom of Vaspurakan]] chose the island as one of his residences. He founded a settlement and erected a large square palace richly decorated with frescoes, built a dock noted for its complex [[hydrotechnical]] engineering, laid out streets, gardens, and orchards, and planted trees and designed areas of recreation for himself and his court.<ref name="Harutyunyan">{{in lang|hy}} [[Varazdat Harutyunyan|Harutyunyan, Varazdat]]. "Ճարտարապետություն" [Architecture]. ''History of the Armenian People''. vol. iii. Yerevan: [[Armenian Academy of Sciences]], 1976, pp. 381-384.</ref> The only surviving structure from that period is the Palatine Cathedral of the Holy Cross ({{lang-hy|Սուրբ Խաչ եկեղեցի}} ''Surb Khach yekeġetsi''). It was built of pink volcanic tuff by the architect-monk Manuel during the years 915-921, with an interior measuring 14.80m × 11.5m and the dome reaching 20.40m above ground. In later centuries, and until 1915, it formed part of a monastic complex, the ruins of which can still be seen to the south of the church.
During his reign, King [[Gagik I Artsruni]] (r. 908-943/944) of the Armenian [[Kingdom of Vaspurakan]] chose the island as one of his residences. He founded a settlement and erected a large square palace richly decorated with frescoes, built a dock noted for its complex [[hydrotechnical]] engineering, laid out streets, gardens, and orchards, and planted trees and designed areas of recreation for himself and his court.<ref name="Harutyunyan">{{in lang|hy}} [[Varazdat Harutyunyan|Harutyunyan, Varazdat]]. "Ճարտարապետություն" [Architecture]. ''History of the Armenian People''. vol. iii. Yerevan: [[Armenian Academy of Sciences]], 1976, pp. 381-384.</ref> The only surviving structure from that period is the Palatine Cathedral of the Holy Cross ({{langx|hy|Սուրբ Խաչ եկեղեցի}} ''Surb Khach yekeġetsi''). It was built of pink volcanic tuff by the architect-monk Manuel during the years 915-921, with an interior measuring 14.80m × 11.5m and the dome reaching 20.40m above ground. In later centuries, and until 1915, it formed part of a monastic complex, the ruins of which can still be seen to the south of the church.


Between 1116 and 1895 the island was the location of the [[Catholicosate of Aghtamar]] of the [[Armenian Apostolic Church]]. Khachatur III, who died in 1895, was the last [[Catholicos]] of Aght'amar.{{sfn|Hewsen|2001|p=208}} In April 1915, during the [[Armenian Genocide]], the monks on Aght'amar were massacred, the cathedral looted, and the monastic buildings destroyed.{{sfn|Hewsen|2001|p=232|ps=: map 224}}
Between 1116 and 1895 the island was the location of the [[Catholicosate of Aghtamar]] of the [[Armenian Apostolic Church]]. Khachatur III, who died in 1895, was the last [[Catholicos]] of Aght'amar.{{sfn|Hewsen|2001|p=208}} In April 1915, during the [[Armenian genocide]], the monks on Aght'amar were massacred, the cathedral looted, and the monastic buildings destroyed.{{sfn|Hewsen|2001|p=232|ps=: map 224}}


On August 28, 2010, a small solar energy power plant was opened on the island, to provide local installations with electricity.<ref>{{cite news|title=Akdamar Island gets luminous twist |work=[[Today's Zaman]] |date=15 September 2010 |url=http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/news-220425-akdamar-island-gets-luminous-twist.html |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121010013933/http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/news-220425-akdamar-island-gets-luminous-twist.html |archivedate=10 October 2012 }}</ref>
On August 28, 2010, a small solar energy power plant was opened on the island, to provide local installations with electricity.<ref>{{cite news|title=Akdamar Island gets luminous twist |work=[[Today's Zaman]] |date=15 September 2010 |url=http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/news-220425-akdamar-island-gets-luminous-twist.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121010013933/http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/news-220425-akdamar-island-gets-luminous-twist.html |archive-date=10 October 2012 }}</ref>


== Holy Cross Cathedral ==
== Holy Cross Cathedral ==
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The architecture of the church is based on a form that had been developed in [[Armenian architecture|Armenia]] several centuries earlier; the best-known example being that of the seventh century [[St. Hripsime Church, Echmiadzin|St. Hripsime]] church in [[Echmiadzin]], incorporating a dome with a conical roof.<ref name="Harutyunyan"/>
The architecture of the church is based on a form that had been developed in [[Armenian architecture|Armenia]] several centuries earlier; the best-known example being that of the seventh century [[St. Hripsime Church, Echmiadzin|St. Hripsime]] church in [[Echmiadzin]], incorporating a dome with a conical roof.<ref name="Harutyunyan"/>


The unique importance of the Cathedral Church of the Holy Cross comes from the extensive array of bas-relief carving of mostly biblical scenes that adorn its external walls. The meanings of these reliefs have been the subject of much and varied interpretation. Not all of this speculation has been produced in good faith - for example, Turkish sources illustrate Islamic and Turkic influences behind the content of some of the reliefs, such as the prominent depiction of a prince sitting cross-legged on a Turkic-style, low throne. Some scholars<ref name="r1">See additionally A. D. H. Bivar, "[https://www.jstor.org/stable/611009?&Search=yes&term=Holy&term=Aght%27amar&term=Review&term=Cross&term=Church&list=hide&searchUri=%2Faction%2FdoBasicSearch%3FQuery%3DReview%2Bof%2BAght%2527amar%253A%2BChurch%2Bof%2Bthe%2BHoly%2BCross%26x%3D0%26y%3D0%26wc%3Don&item=2&ttl=21&returnArticleService=showArticle Review of ''Aght'amar: Church of the Holy Cross'']". ''Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies''. Vol. 30, No. 2, 1967, pp. 409-410.</ref> assert that the friezes parallel contemporary motifs found in [[Umayyad]] art - such as a turbaned prince, Arab styles of dress, wine imagery; allusions to royal [[Sassanian]] imagery are also present (griffins, for example).<ref name="r1" />
The unique importance of the Cathedral Church of the Holy Cross comes from the extensive array of bas-relief carving of mostly biblical scenes that adorn its external walls. The meanings of these reliefs have been the subject of much and varied interpretation. Not all of this speculation has been produced in good faith - for example, Turkish sources illustrate Islamic and Turkic influences behind the content of some of the reliefs, such as the prominent depiction of a prince sitting cross-legged on a Turkic-style, low throne. Some scholars<ref name="r1">See additionally A. D. H. Bivar, "[https://www.jstor.org/stable/611009?&Search=yes&term=Holy&term=Aght%27amar&term=Review&term=Cross&term=Church&list=hide&searchUri=%2Faction%2FdoBasicSearch%3FQuery%3DReview%2Bof%2BAght%2527amar%253A%2BChurch%2Bof%2Bthe%2BHoly%2BCross%26x%3D0%26y%3D0%26wc%3Don&item=2&ttl=21&returnArticleService=showArticle Review of ''Aght'amar: Church of the Holy Cross'']". ''Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies''. Vol. 30, No. 2, 1967, pp. 409-410.</ref> assert that the friezes parallel contemporary motifs found in [[Umayyad]] art - such as a turbaned prince, Arab styles of dress, wine imagery; allusions to royal [[Sassanian]] imagery are also present (griffins, for example).<ref name="r1" />


===Vandalism===
===Vandalism===
After 1915, the church has been exposed to extensive vandalism. Before the restoration of the church, the reliefs on the church wall used as a shooting range. Zakarya Mildanoğlu, an architect who was involved in the restoration process of the church, explains the situation during an interview with Hrant Dink as "The facade of the church is full of bullet holes. Some of them are so big that they can not be covered during the renovation process."<ref name=poligon>{{in lang|tr}} "[http://bianet.org/bianet/bianet/63341-acele-restorasyona-seytan-karisir Acele Restorasyona Şeytan Karışır!]." ''[[Agos]]''. July 2, 2005.</ref> During many conferences related to the restoration of the Akhtamar church, the process of covering the bullet holes are identified as the hardest part of the restoration by academicians and architects.<ref name=restorasyon>{{in lang|tr}} "[http://www.mimarizm.com/Haberler/HaberDetay.aspx?id=48302 Paylaşılan Bir Restorasyon Süreci: Akhtamar Surp Haç Kilisesi]." ''Mimarizm''. February 26, 2008.</ref><ref name=restorasyon2>{{in lang|tr}} "[http://www.mimdap.org/w/?p=4377 Akthamar Kilisesi Restorasyonu Sempozyumu]." ''Mimdap''. February 26, 2008.</ref> Some claim that the Armenian churches and gravestones have been exposed to vandalism as a part of the Turkish government policy which aims to destroy the Armenian heritage in Anatolia.<ref name=culturalgenocide>{{cite web |url=http://www.genocide-museum.am/eng/cultural_genocide.php |format=PHP |title=Cultural Genocide |publisher=Genocide-museum.am}}</ref><ref name=culturalgenocidebook>{{cite web|url=http://www.wales-armenia.org.uk/armenia_culture_book_a.pdf |format=PDF |title=The Genocide of Armenian Culture |publisher=Wales-armenia.org.uk |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111005140811/http://www.wales-armenia.org.uk/armenia_culture_book_a.pdf |archivedate=2011-10-05 }}</ref>
After 1915, the church has been exposed to extensive vandalism. Before the restoration of the church, the reliefs on the church wall used as a shooting range. Zakarya Mildanoğlu, an architect who was involved in the restoration process of the church, explains the situation during an interview with Hrant Dink as "The facade of the church is full of bullet holes. Some of them are so big that they can not be covered during the renovation process."<ref name=poligon>{{in lang|tr}} "[http://bianet.org/bianet/bianet/63341-acele-restorasyona-seytan-karisir Acele Restorasyona Şeytan Karışır!]." ''[[Agos]]''. July 2, 2005.</ref> During many conferences related to the restoration of the Akhtamar church, the process of covering the bullet holes are identified as the hardest part of the restoration by academicians and architects.<ref name=restorasyon>{{in lang|tr}} "[http://www.mimarizm.com/Haberler/HaberDetay.aspx?id=48302 Paylaşılan Bir Restorasyon Süreci: Akhtamar Surp Haç Kilisesi]." ''Mimarizm''. February 26, 2008.</ref><ref name=restorasyon2>{{in lang|tr}} "[http://www.mimdap.org/w/?p=4377 Akthamar Kilisesi Restorasyonu Sempozyumu]." ''Mimdap''. February 26, 2008.</ref> Some claim that the Armenian churches and gravestones have been exposed to vandalism as a part of the Turkish government policy which aims to destroy the Armenian heritage in Anatolia.<ref name=culturalgenocide>{{cite web |url=http://www.genocide-museum.am/eng/cultural_genocide.php |format=PHP |title=Cultural Genocide |publisher=Genocide-museum.am}}</ref><ref name=culturalgenocidebook>{{cite web|url=http://www.wales-armenia.org.uk/armenia_culture_book_a.pdf |title=The Genocide of Armenian Culture |publisher=Wales-armenia.org.uk |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111005140811/http://www.wales-armenia.org.uk/armenia_culture_book_a.pdf |archive-date=2011-10-05 }}</ref>


In 1951 an order was issued to demolish the church, but the writer [[Yasar Kemal]] managed to stop its destruction. He explained the situation to [[Alain Bosquet]] as "I was in a ship from [[Tatvan]] to [[Van]]. I met with a military officer Dr. Cavit Bey on board. I told him, in this city there is a church descended from Armenians. It is a masterpiece. These days, they are demolishing this church. I will take you there tomorrow. This church is a monument of Anatolia. Can you help me to stop the destruction? The next day we went there with the military officer. They have already demolished the small chapel next to the church. The military officer became angry and told the workers, "I am ordering you to stop working. I will meet with governor. There will be no movement until I return to the island again". The workers immediately stopped the demolition. We arrived at Van city center. I contacted the newspaper [[Cumhuriyet]]. They informed the Ministry of Education about the demolition. Two days later, Minister Avni Başman telegraphed the Van governor and ordered to stop the demolition permanently. June 25, 1951, the day when the order came, is the liberation day of the church."<ref name=yasarkemalalainbosque>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4SdkAAAAMAAJ|ISBN= 975-433-032-8 |first1= Kemal|last1= Yaşar |first2= Alain |last2=Bosquet |title=Yaşar Kemal kendini anlatıyor: Alain Bosquet'nin Yaşar Kemal' le konuşmaları - Toros Yayınları |year=1993 |page= 67 |language=Tr}}</ref>
In 1951 an order was issued to demolish the church, but the writer [[Yasar Kemal]] managed to stop its destruction. He explained the situation to [[Alain Bosquet]] as "I was in a ship from [[Tatvan]] to [[Van, Turkey|Van]]. I met with a military officer Dr. Cavit Bey on board. I told him, in this city there is a church descended from Armenians. It is a masterpiece. These days, they are demolishing this church. I will take you there tomorrow. This church is a monument of Anatolia. Can you help me to stop the destruction? The next day we went there with the military officer. They have already demolished the small chapel next to the church. The military officer became angry and told the workers, "I am ordering you to stop working. I will meet with governor. There will be no movement until I return to the island again". The workers immediately stopped the demolition. We arrived at Van city center. I contacted the newspaper [[Cumhuriyet]]. They informed the Ministry of Education about the demolition. Two days later, Minister Avni Başman telegraphed the Van governor and ordered to stop the demolition permanently. June 25, 1951, the day when the order came, is the liberation day of the church."<ref name=yasarkemalalainbosque>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4SdkAAAAMAAJ|isbn= 975-433-032-8 |first1= Kemal|last1= Yaşar |first2= Alain |last2=Bosquet |title=Yaşar Kemal kendini anlatıyor: Alain Bosquet'nin Yaşar Kemal' le konuşmaları - Toros Yayınları |year=1993 |page= 67 |publisher= Toros Yayınları |language=Tr}}</ref>


===Restoration===
===Restoration===
[[File:Akhtamar Surb Khach Armenian Church.jpg|thumb|The cross was mounted on top of the Armenian cathedral after restoration.]]
[[File:Akhtamar Surb Khach Armenian Church.jpg|thumb|The cross was mounted on top of the Armenian cathedral after restoration.]]


Between May 2005 and October 2006, the church underwent a controversial restoration program.<ref>{{cite news|first=Vercihan |last=Ziflioğlu |title=Koç: Turkey has undertaken its cultural, historical responsibility |url=http://213.243.16.209/article.php?enewsid=69526 |date=March 30, 2007 |work=Turkish Daily News |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071008230955/http://213.243.16.209/article.php?enewsid=69526 |archivedate=October 8, 2007 }}</ref> The restoration had a stated budget of 2 million [[Turkish lira|Turkish Lira]] (approximately 1.4 million [[United States Dollar|USD]]) and was financed by the [[Culture and Tourism Ministry of Turkey|Turkish Ministry of Culture]]. It officially re-opened as a museum on 29 March 2007 in a ceremony attended by the Turkish Minister of Culture, government officials, ambassadors of several countries, [[Patriarch Mesrob II Mutafyan of Constantinople|Patriarch Mesrob II]] (spiritual leader of the Armenian Orthodox community of Turkey), a delegation from [[Armenia]] headed by the Deputy to the Armenian Minister of Culture, and a large group of invited journalists from many news organizations around the world.<ref name="BBC">"[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6505927.stm Ankara restores Armenian church]." ''[[BBC News]]''. March 29, 2007.</ref>
Between May 2005 and October 2006, the church underwent a controversial restoration program.<ref>{{cite news|first=Vercihan |last=Ziflioğlu |title=Koç: Turkey has undertaken its cultural, historical responsibility |url=http://213.243.16.209/article.php?enewsid=69526 |date=March 30, 2007 |work=Turkish Daily News |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071008230955/http://213.243.16.209/article.php?enewsid=69526 |archive-date=October 8, 2007 }}</ref> The restoration had a stated budget of 2 million [[Turkish lira|Turkish Lira]] (approximately 1.4 million [[United States Dollar|USD]]) and was financed by the [[Culture and Tourism Ministry of Turkey|Turkish Ministry of Culture]]. It officially re-opened as a museum on 29 March 2007 in a ceremony attended by the Turkish Minister of Culture, government officials, ambassadors of several countries, [[Patriarch Mesrob II Mutafyan of Constantinople|Patriarch Mesrob II]] (spiritual leader of the Armenian Orthodox community of Turkey), a delegation from [[Armenia]] headed by the Deputy to the Armenian Minister of Culture, and a large group of invited journalists from many news organizations around the world.<ref name="BBC">"[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6505927.stm Ankara restores Armenian church]." ''[[BBC News]]''. March 29, 2007.</ref>


Özdemir Çakacak, the [[Governor of Van]], described the refurbishing of the church as "a show of Turkey's respect for history and culture".<ref name=todayz>Doğan, Ibrahim. "[http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/detaylar.do?load=detay&link=106950&bolum=101 Restored Armenian church reopened with prayers as museum]{{dead link|date=June 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}." ''Today's Zaman''. March 30, 2007.</ref> A Turkish state department museum official added, "We could not have ignored the artifacts of our Armenian citizens, and we did not."<ref name=todayz /> Signs heralding the church reopening declared "Tarihe saygı, kültüre saygı" ("Respect the history, respect the culture").<ref name="Independent">Herbert, Ian. "[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/turkish-restoration-of-armenian-church-leaves-no-room-for-apology-442512.html Turkish restoration of Armenian church leaves no room for apology]." ''[[The Independent]]''. March 30, 2007.</ref>
Özdemir Çakacak, the [[Governor of Van]], described the refurbishing of the church as "a show of Turkey's respect for history and culture".<ref name=todayz>Doğan, Ibrahim. "[http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/detaylar.do?load=detay&link=106950&bolum=101 Restored Armenian church reopened with prayers as museum]{{dead link|date=June 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}." ''Today's Zaman''. March 30, 2007.</ref> A Turkish state department museum official added, "We could not have ignored the artifacts of our Armenian citizens, and we did not."<ref name=todayz /> Signs heralding the church reopening declared "Tarihe saygı, kültüre saygı" ("Respect the history, respect the culture").<ref name="Independent">Herbert, Ian. "[https://web.archive.org/web/20091121170058/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/turkish-restoration-of-armenian-church-leaves-no-room-for-apology-442512.html Turkish restoration of Armenian church leaves no room for apology]." ''[[The Independent]]''. March 30, 2007.</ref>


According to Maximilian Hartmuth, an academician at [[Sabancı University]], "the church was turned into a museum rather than re-opened as a place of worship following the restoration was, for example, claimed to be a wedge separating the monument from Turkey’s Armenian community. The critics, writing for media such as'' Radikal, Milliyet'', or ''Turkish Daily News'', furthermore lamented that permission to re-mount the cross on top of the church was not given. Moreover, they argued, the official name of the museum, the Turkish ''Akdamar'' (translating as “white vein”) rather than the original Armenian ''Ahtamar'' – the name of the island in Lake Van on which the church stands and Surp Haç (Holy Cross) for the church itself would suggest this to be a Turkish monument. At the same time only sparing use was made of the word “Armenian” in official statements. With Turkey's Armenian community not granted the privilege to hold a service at least once a year - as had been requested - and a large Turkish flag flying over the island, it was suggested by some critics that this project really announced the “[[Turkification]]” of this monument, the initiative being no more than a media stunt."<ref name=culturalheritage>{{cite web|url=http://www.hks.harvard.edu/kokkalis/GSW10/Hartmuth,%20Maximilian%20GSW10%20submission.pdf |format=PDF |title=Multicultural Pasts as a Problem in the Construction of National Programs of Cultural Heritage in Modern Southeast Europe, paper read at the 10th Annual Kokkalis Program Workshop at Harvard University, February 7–8, 2007 |page=2 }}{{dead link|date=June 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
The initial Divine Liturgy in Holy Cross Church took place on 19 September, 2010. Prior to the opening of the Church, a concert was performed by pianist [[Şahan Arzruni]]. According to Maximilian Hartmuth, an academician at [[Sabancı University]], "the church was turned into a museum rather than re-opened as a place of worship following the restoration was, for example, claimed to be a wedge separating the monument from Turkey’s Armenian community. The critics, writing for media such as'' Radikal, Milliyet'', or ''Turkish Daily News'', furthermore lamented that permission to re-mount the cross on top of the church was not given. Moreover, they argued, the official name of the museum, the Turkish ''Akdamar'' (translating as “white vein”) rather than the original Armenian ''Ahtamar'' – the name of the island in Lake Van on which the church stands and Surp Haç (Holy Cross) for the church itself would suggest this to be a Turkish monument. At the same time only sparing use was made of the word “Armenian” in official statements. With Turkey's Armenian community not granted the privilege to hold a service at least once a year - as had been requested - and a large Turkish flag flying over the island, it was suggested by some critics that this project really announced the “[[Turkification]]” of this monument, the initiative being no more than a media stunt."<ref name=culturalheritage>{{cite web|url=http://www.hks.harvard.edu/kokkalis/GSW10/Hartmuth,%20Maximilian%20GSW10%20submission.pdf |title=Multicultural Pasts as a Problem in the Construction of National Programs of Cultural Heritage in Modern Southeast Europe, paper read at the 10th Annual Kokkalis Program Workshop at Harvard University, February 7–8, 2007 |page=2 }}{{dead link|date=June 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>


===Controversies===
===Controversies===
Line 85: Line 88:


''[[Hürriyet]]'' columnist [[Cengiz Çandar]] characterized the way the Turkish government handled the opening as an extension of an ongoing "[[cultural genocide]]" of the Armenians.<ref name=hurriyet>{{cite web |url=http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/yazarlar/6225448.asp?yazarid=215&gid=61 |author=Çandar, Cengiz |title=Ahtamar Kilisesi ya da sözde Akdamar Müzesi |publisher= Hurriyet.com.tr |date=March 29, 2007 |language=tr}}</ref> He characterizes the renaming of the church from Armenian to Turkish as part of a broader program to rename Armenian historical sites in Turkey, and attributes the refusal to place a cross atop the church as symptomatic of religious intolerance in Turkish society. (This was written before the cross was placed at its place on top of the church in 2010)
''[[Hürriyet]]'' columnist [[Cengiz Çandar]] characterized the way the Turkish government handled the opening as an extension of an ongoing "[[cultural genocide]]" of the Armenians.<ref name=hurriyet>{{cite web |url=http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/yazarlar/6225448.asp?yazarid=215&gid=61 |author=Çandar, Cengiz |title=Ahtamar Kilisesi ya da sözde Akdamar Müzesi |publisher= Hurriyet.com.tr |date=March 29, 2007 |language=tr}}</ref> He characterizes the renaming of the church from Armenian to Turkish as part of a broader program to rename Armenian historical sites in Turkey, and attributes the refusal to place a cross atop the church as symptomatic of religious intolerance in Turkish society. (This was written before the cross was placed at its place on top of the church in 2010)
{{quotation|What do you think “our set” are trying to do? If you ask me, they would like “to appear righteous and benefit politically.” And naturally they make a mess out of it. The initial plans were for the opening of Ahtamar to take place on Apr. 24. A real cunning idea... As it is known to be the “[[Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day|Armenian genocide remembrance day]] in the world,” a trump for propaganda would have been used on that day.
{{quotation|What do you think “our set” are trying to do? If you ask me, they would like “to appear righteous and benefit politically.” And naturally they make a mess out of it. The initial plans were for the opening of Ahtamar to take place on Apr. 24. A real cunning idea... As it is known to be the “[[Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day|Armenian genocide remembrance day]] in the world,” a trump for propaganda would have been used on that day.


Then the date became Apr. 11. According to the ancient Armenian calendar, Apr. 11 coincides with Apr. 24. They probably knew this also. They were still pursuing another cunning idea. At the end, it was decided that the opening of Ahtamar, now “Akdamar,” would take place on Mar. 29, as a restoration opening of a museum-church, without a cross or a bell.<ref name=doc>Çandar, Cengiz. "[https://docs.google.com/gview?a=v&q=cache:GUB-W-YMIjYJ:www.aztagdaily.com/EnglishSupplement/20070330%2520TDN%25204%2520%281%29.pdf+Cengiz+%C3%87andar+cross+%22cultural+genocide%22&hl=en&gl=us The so-called 'Akdamar Museum']{{Dead link|date=September 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}." ''Turkish Daily News''. March 30, 2007.</ref>}}
Then the date became Apr. 11. According to the ancient Armenian calendar, Apr. 11 coincides with Apr. 24. They probably knew this also. They were still pursuing another cunning idea. At the end, it was decided that the opening of Ahtamar, now “Akdamar,” would take place on Mar. 29, as a restoration opening of a museum-church, without a cross or a bell.<ref name=doc>Çandar, Cengiz. "[https://docs.google.com/gview?a=v&q=cache:GUB-W-YMIjYJ:www.aztagdaily.com/EnglishSupplement/20070330%2520TDN%25204%2520%281%29.pdf+Cengiz+%C3%87andar+cross+%22cultural+genocide%22&hl=en&gl=us The so-called 'Akdamar Museum']{{Dead link|date=September 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}." ''Turkish Daily News''. March 30, 2007.</ref>}}


In fact, Turkish deputy minister for culture, [[İsmet Yılmaz]] cited technical reasons for not being able to place a cross atop the dome of the church:
Turkish deputy minister for culture, [[İsmet Yılmaz]] cited technical reasons for not being able to place a cross atop the dome of the church:


{{quotation|“The reconstruction, which was carried out by Italian specialists, makes it impossible for the dome to support the 2-meter, 200-kilogram cross. If we put up the cross without making any changes, even a breeze will harm the dome. We plan to invite other specialists to solve this problem.”<ref name=next>"[http://www.armenianweekly.com/2010/09/30/detailed-report-the-mass-in-akhtamar-and-what%E2%80%99s-next/ ''Detailed Report: The Mass in Akhtamar, and What’s Next'']." ''The Armenian Weekly''. September 30, 2010.</ref>}}
{{quotation|“The reconstruction, which was carried out by Italian specialists, makes it impossible for the dome to support the 2-meter, 200-kilogram cross. If we put up the cross without making any changes, even a breeze will harm the dome. We plan to invite other specialists to solve this problem.”<ref name=next>"[http://www.armenianweekly.com/2010/09/30/detailed-report-the-mass-in-akhtamar-and-what%E2%80%99s-next/ ''Detailed Report: The Mass in Akhtamar, and What’s Next'']." ''The Armenian Weekly''. September 30, 2010.</ref>}}


Although this explanation from the government met with doubts, after the cross was erected on the dome of the church in 2010 (which weighed 110&nbsp;kg - about half of what the Turkish deputy minister spoke about), after [[2011 Van earthquake]] cracks appeared around the dome of the church.<ref name=eq>{{cite web|url=http://www.todayszaman.com/news-261212-quake-cracks-dome-of-ancient-armenian-church-in-van.html |title=Quake cracks dome of ancient Armenian church in Van |publisher=Today's Zaman |date=28 October 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120101144545/http://www.todayszaman.com/news-261212-quake-cracks-dome-of-ancient-armenian-church-in-van.html |archivedate=1 January 2012 }}</ref>
Although this explanation from the government met with doubts, after the cross was erected on the dome of the church in 2010 (which weighed 110&nbsp;kg - about half of what the Turkish deputy minister spoke about), after [[2011 Van earthquake]] cracks appeared around the dome of the church.<ref name=eq>{{cite web|url=http://www.todayszaman.com/news-261212-quake-cracks-dome-of-ancient-armenian-church-in-van.html |title=Quake cracks dome of ancient Armenian church in Van |publisher=Today's Zaman |date=28 October 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120101144545/http://www.todayszaman.com/news-261212-quake-cracks-dome-of-ancient-armenian-church-in-van.html |archive-date=1 January 2012 }}</ref>


Çandar notes that the ''[[Agos]]'' issue published on the day of the murder of [[Hrant Dink]] featured a Dink commentary on the Turkish government's handling of the Akdamar issue, which the late journalist characterized as "A real comedy... A real tragedy..." According to Dink,
Çandar notes that the ''[[Agos]]'' issue published on the day of the murder of [[Hrant Dink]] featured a Dink commentary on the Turkish government's handling of the Akdamar issue, which the late journalist characterized as "A real comedy... A real tragedy..." According to Dink,
Line 99: Line 102:
{{quotation|The government hasn't still been able to formulate a correct approach to the “[[Armenian question]].” Its real aim is not to solve the problem, but to gain points like a wrestler in a contest. How and when it will make the right move and defeat its opponent. That's the only concern. This is not earnestness. The state calls on Armenian historians to discuss history, but does not shy from trying its own intellectuals who have an unorthodox rhetoric on the [[Armenian genocide]]. It restores an Armenian church in the Southeast, but only thinks, “How can I use this for political gains in the world, how can I sell it?”<ref name=hurriyet /><ref name=doc />}}
{{quotation|The government hasn't still been able to formulate a correct approach to the “[[Armenian question]].” Its real aim is not to solve the problem, but to gain points like a wrestler in a contest. How and when it will make the right move and defeat its opponent. That's the only concern. This is not earnestness. The state calls on Armenian historians to discuss history, but does not shy from trying its own intellectuals who have an unorthodox rhetoric on the [[Armenian genocide]]. It restores an Armenian church in the Southeast, but only thinks, “How can I use this for political gains in the world, how can I sell it?”<ref name=hurriyet /><ref name=doc />}}


Historian [[Ara Sarafian]] has answered some criticism of the Akdamar project, stating that, on the contrary, the project represents an answer to allegations of cultural genocide. He has stated that the revitalization of the site is "an important peace offering" from the Turkish government.<ref>"[http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/english/6298039.asp?gid=74 Armenian historian: Akdamar Church re-opening a 'peace-offering' from Turkey]." ''Hürriyet''. April 9, 2007.</ref>
Historian [[Ara Sarafian]] has answered some criticism of the Akdamar project, stating that, on the contrary, the project represents an answer to allegations of cultural genocide. He has stated that the revitalization of the site is "an important peace offering" from the Turkish government.<ref>"[http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/english/6298039.asp?gid=74 Armenian historian: Akdamar Church re-opening a 'peace-offering' from Turkey]." ''Hürriyet''. April 9, 2007.</ref>


The Armenian delegation attending the opening, led by the Deputy Minister of Culture and Youth Affairs; Gagik Giurjyan, faced obstacles on their way to the opening. They had to travel 16 hours by bus through [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]] to Turkey, due to the closure of the Turkish-Armenian border by Turkey.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://virtualani.org/aghtamar-reopening/index.htm|title=Armenian Architecture - VirtualANI - Reopening of Holy Cross church on Aghtamar (Akdamar) Island|website=virtualani.org|access-date=2019-11-21}}</ref>
The Armenian delegation attending the opening, led by the Deputy Minister of Culture and Youth Affairs; Gagik Giurjyan, faced obstacles on their way to the opening. They had to travel 16 hours by bus through [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]] to Turkey, due to the closure of the Turkish-Armenian border by Turkey.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://virtualani.org/aghtamar-reopening/index.htm|title=Armenian Architecture - VirtualANI - Reopening of Holy Cross church on Aghtamar (Akdamar) Island|website=virtualani.org|access-date=2019-11-21}}</ref>
Line 125: Line 128:


== Notes ==
== Notes ==
{{reflist|3}}
{{Reflist|3}}


== Further reading ==
== Further reading ==
Line 131: Line 134:
*[[Sirarpie Der Nersessian]] and H. Vahramian, ''Documents of Armenian Architecture'', Vol. 8: Aght'amar (Milan, 1974).
*[[Sirarpie Der Nersessian]] and H. Vahramian, ''Documents of Armenian Architecture'', Vol. 8: Aght'amar (Milan, 1974).
*J. G. Davie''Medieval Armenian Art and Architecture: The Church of the Holy Cross, Aght'amar''mar (London, 1991).
*J. G. Davie''Medieval Armenian Art and Architecture: The Church of the Holy Cross, Aght'amar''mar (London, 1991).
*{{cite book|last=Mnatsakanian|first=Stepan|authorlink1=Stepan Mnatsakanian|author2=Rainer K. Lampinen|editor=Varteres Karagozian|title=Aghtamar|year=1986|publisher=Editions Erebouni|location=Finland|id={{LCC|86-80509}}}}
*{{cite book|last=Mnatsakanian|first=Stepan|author-link1=Stepan Mnatsakanian|author2=Rainer K. Lampinen|editor=Varteres Karagozian|title=Aghtamar|year=1986|publisher=Editions Erebouni|location=Finland|lccn=86-80509 }}
*Lynn Jones, ''Between Islam and Byzantium: Aght'amar and the Visual Construction of Medieval Armenian Rulership'' (Aldershot, Ashgate, 2007).
*Lynn Jones, ''Between Islam and Byzantium: Aght'amar and the Visual Construction of Medieval Armenian Rulership'' (Aldershot, Ashgate, 2007).
*{{cite book|last=Hewsen|first=Robert H.|authorlink=Robert H. Hewsen|title=Armenia: A Historical Atlas|publisher=University of Chicago Press|location=Chicago|year=2001|isbn=0-226-33228-4|ref=harv}}
*{{cite book|last=Hewsen|first=Robert H.|author-link=Robert H. Hewsen|title=Armenia: A Historical Atlas|publisher=University of Chicago Press|location=Chicago|year=2001|isbn=0-226-33228-4}}


== External links ==
== External links ==
Line 143: Line 146:
* [https://charlvarchive.org/Site/118 The 1973 pre-restoration photographic survey of the Cathedral of the Holy Cross at Akdamar Island]
* [https://charlvarchive.org/Site/118 The 1973 pre-restoration photographic survey of the Cathedral of the Holy Cross at Akdamar Island]
* [http://www.virtualani.org/aghtamar/2005restoration.htm Observations and comments on the 2005-2006 restoration of the church]
* [http://www.virtualani.org/aghtamar/2005restoration.htm Observations and comments on the 2005-2006 restoration of the church]
* [https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/6035/ UNESCO]

{{Lake Van}}
{{Lake Van}}
{{Authority control}}


[[Category:Islands of Lake Van]]
[[Category:Islands of Lake Van]]

Latest revision as of 13:35, 31 October 2024

Akdamar Island
Akdamar Island seen from the south shore of Lake Van, near the town of Gevaş
Akdamar Island is located in Turkey
Akdamar Island
Akdamar Island
Geography
LocationLake Van
Coordinates38°20′30″N 43°02′07″E / 38.341667°N 43.035278°E / 38.341667; 43.035278
Total islands1
Area0.7 km2 (0.27 sq mi)
Length0.7 km (0.43 mi)
Width0.6 km (0.37 mi)
Coastline2 km (1.2 mi)
Highest elevation1,912 m (6273 ft)
Administration
ProvinceVan
DistrictGevaş

Akdamar Island (Turkish: Akdamar Adası), also known as Aghtamar[1][2] (Armenian: Աղթամար, romanized: Aġt’amar)[3] or Akhtamar[4][5] (Armenian: Ախթամար, romanized: Axt’amar;[6][7] Kurdish: Girava Axtamarê[citation needed]), is the second largest of the four main islands in Lake Van, in eastern Turkey. About 0.7 km2 in size, it is situated approximately 3 km from the shoreline. At the western end of the island, a hard, grey, limestone cliff rises 80 m above the lake's level (1,912 m above sea level). The island declines to the east to a level site where a spring provides ample water.

It is home to the 10th century Armenian Holy Cross Cathedral, which was the seat of the Armenian Apostolic Catholicosate of Aghtamar from 1116 to 1895.

Etymology

[edit]
A statue of princess Tamar waiting for her love, near Sevan Lake, Armenia. The author is Armenian-American sculptor Rafael Petrosyan.

The origin and meaning of the island's name is unknown,[8] but a folk etymology explanation exists, based on an old Armenian legend.[9] According to the tale, an Armenian princess named Tamar lived on the island and was in love with a commoner. This boy would swim from the shore to the island each night, guided by a light she lit for him. Her father learned of the boy's visits. One night, as she waited for her lover to arrive, her father smashed her light, leaving the boy in the middle of the lake without a guide to indicate which direction to swim. He drowned and his body washed ashore and, as the legend concludes, it appeared as if the words "Akh, Tamar" (Oh, Tamar) were frozen on his lips.[10][11] The legend was the inspiration for a well-known 1891 poem by Hovhannes Tumanyan.[12]

The similar-sounding Akdamar (meaning "white vein" in Turkish) has since become the official name of the island.

History

[edit]
"Akthamar from Aghavank" an engraving c. 1860
General view of Akdamar Island in springtime.

During his reign, King Gagik I Artsruni (r. 908-943/944) of the Armenian Kingdom of Vaspurakan chose the island as one of his residences. He founded a settlement and erected a large square palace richly decorated with frescoes, built a dock noted for its complex hydrotechnical engineering, laid out streets, gardens, and orchards, and planted trees and designed areas of recreation for himself and his court.[13] The only surviving structure from that period is the Palatine Cathedral of the Holy Cross (Armenian: Սուրբ Խաչ եկեղեցի Surb Khach yekeġetsi). It was built of pink volcanic tuff by the architect-monk Manuel during the years 915-921, with an interior measuring 14.80m × 11.5m and the dome reaching 20.40m above ground. In later centuries, and until 1915, it formed part of a monastic complex, the ruins of which can still be seen to the south of the church.

Between 1116 and 1895 the island was the location of the Catholicosate of Aghtamar of the Armenian Apostolic Church. Khachatur III, who died in 1895, was the last Catholicos of Aght'amar.[14] In April 1915, during the Armenian genocide, the monks on Aght'amar were massacred, the cathedral looted, and the monastic buildings destroyed.[15]

On August 28, 2010, a small solar energy power plant was opened on the island, to provide local installations with electricity.[16]

Holy Cross Cathedral

[edit]
Main article: Armenian Cathedral of the Holy Cross
The Armenian Cathedral of the Holy Cross
The cathedral.
A detail of David and Goliath from the cathedral

The architecture of the church is based on a form that had been developed in Armenia several centuries earlier; the best-known example being that of the seventh century St. Hripsime church in Echmiadzin, incorporating a dome with a conical roof.[13]

The unique importance of the Cathedral Church of the Holy Cross comes from the extensive array of bas-relief carving of mostly biblical scenes that adorn its external walls. The meanings of these reliefs have been the subject of much and varied interpretation. Not all of this speculation has been produced in good faith - for example, Turkish sources illustrate Islamic and Turkic influences behind the content of some of the reliefs, such as the prominent depiction of a prince sitting cross-legged on a Turkic-style, low throne. Some scholars[17] assert that the friezes parallel contemporary motifs found in Umayyad art - such as a turbaned prince, Arab styles of dress, wine imagery; allusions to royal Sassanian imagery are also present (griffins, for example).[17]

Vandalism

[edit]

After 1915, the church has been exposed to extensive vandalism. Before the restoration of the church, the reliefs on the church wall used as a shooting range. Zakarya Mildanoğlu, an architect who was involved in the restoration process of the church, explains the situation during an interview with Hrant Dink as "The facade of the church is full of bullet holes. Some of them are so big that they can not be covered during the renovation process."[18] During many conferences related to the restoration of the Akhtamar church, the process of covering the bullet holes are identified as the hardest part of the restoration by academicians and architects.[19][20] Some claim that the Armenian churches and gravestones have been exposed to vandalism as a part of the Turkish government policy which aims to destroy the Armenian heritage in Anatolia.[21][22]

In 1951 an order was issued to demolish the church, but the writer Yasar Kemal managed to stop its destruction. He explained the situation to Alain Bosquet as "I was in a ship from Tatvan to Van. I met with a military officer Dr. Cavit Bey on board. I told him, in this city there is a church descended from Armenians. It is a masterpiece. These days, they are demolishing this church. I will take you there tomorrow. This church is a monument of Anatolia. Can you help me to stop the destruction? The next day we went there with the military officer. They have already demolished the small chapel next to the church. The military officer became angry and told the workers, "I am ordering you to stop working. I will meet with governor. There will be no movement until I return to the island again". The workers immediately stopped the demolition. We arrived at Van city center. I contacted the newspaper Cumhuriyet. They informed the Ministry of Education about the demolition. Two days later, Minister Avni Başman telegraphed the Van governor and ordered to stop the demolition permanently. June 25, 1951, the day when the order came, is the liberation day of the church."[23]

Restoration

[edit]
The cross was mounted on top of the Armenian cathedral after restoration.

Between May 2005 and October 2006, the church underwent a controversial restoration program.[24] The restoration had a stated budget of 2 million Turkish Lira (approximately 1.4 million USD) and was financed by the Turkish Ministry of Culture. It officially re-opened as a museum on 29 March 2007 in a ceremony attended by the Turkish Minister of Culture, government officials, ambassadors of several countries, Patriarch Mesrob II (spiritual leader of the Armenian Orthodox community of Turkey), a delegation from Armenia headed by the Deputy to the Armenian Minister of Culture, and a large group of invited journalists from many news organizations around the world.[25]

Özdemir Çakacak, the Governor of Van, described the refurbishing of the church as "a show of Turkey's respect for history and culture".[26] A Turkish state department museum official added, "We could not have ignored the artifacts of our Armenian citizens, and we did not."[26] Signs heralding the church reopening declared "Tarihe saygı, kültüre saygı" ("Respect the history, respect the culture").[27]

The initial Divine Liturgy in Holy Cross Church took place on 19 September, 2010. Prior to the opening of the Church, a concert was performed by pianist Şahan Arzruni. According to Maximilian Hartmuth, an academician at Sabancı University, "the church was turned into a museum rather than re-opened as a place of worship following the restoration was, for example, claimed to be a wedge separating the monument from Turkey’s Armenian community. The critics, writing for media such as Radikal, Milliyet, or Turkish Daily News, furthermore lamented that permission to re-mount the cross on top of the church was not given. Moreover, they argued, the official name of the museum, the Turkish Akdamar (translating as “white vein”) rather than the original Armenian Ahtamar – the name of the island in Lake Van on which the church stands and Surp Haç (Holy Cross) for the church itself would suggest this to be a Turkish monument. At the same time only sparing use was made of the word “Armenian” in official statements. With Turkey's Armenian community not granted the privilege to hold a service at least once a year - as had been requested - and a large Turkish flag flying over the island, it was suggested by some critics that this project really announced the “Turkification” of this monument, the initiative being no more than a media stunt."[9]

Controversies

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Armenian religious leaders invited to attend the opening ceremony opted to boycott the event, because the church was being reopened as a secular museum. Controversy surrounded the issue of whether the cross atop the dome until 1915 should be replaced. Some Armenians said that the renovation was unfinished until the cross was replaced, and that prayer should be allowed inside at least once a year. A cross had been prepared nearly a year before the opening, and Mesrob II petitioned the Prime Minister and Minister of Culture to place the cross on the dome of the cathedral.[28] Turkish officials cited technical difficulties related to the structure of the restored building which may not be able to safely hold a heavy cross on top without further reinforcement.[29]

The controversial cross was erected on the top of the church on October 2, 2010.[30] The cross was sent by the Armenian Patriarchate of Istanbul to Van by plane. It is 2 meters high and weigh 110 kilograms. It was put on top of the church after being sanctified by Armenian clergymen. Since 2010, every year a mass is held in the church too.

The opening was controversial among some Turkish nationalist groups, who protested at the island and in a separate demonstration in Ankara. Police detained five Turkish nationals who carried a banner declaring "The Turkish people are noble. They would never commit genocide."[25] Demonstrators outside the Ministry of the Interior in Ankara chanted slogans against the possibility of a cross being erected atop the church, declaring "You are all Armenians, we are all Turks and Muslims".[26]

Hürriyet columnist Cengiz Çandar characterized the way the Turkish government handled the opening as an extension of an ongoing "cultural genocide" of the Armenians.[31] He characterizes the renaming of the church from Armenian to Turkish as part of a broader program to rename Armenian historical sites in Turkey, and attributes the refusal to place a cross atop the church as symptomatic of religious intolerance in Turkish society. (This was written before the cross was placed at its place on top of the church in 2010)

What do you think “our set” are trying to do? If you ask me, they would like “to appear righteous and benefit politically.” And naturally they make a mess out of it. The initial plans were for the opening of Ahtamar to take place on Apr. 24. A real cunning idea... As it is known to be the “Armenian genocide remembrance day in the world,” a trump for propaganda would have been used on that day. Then the date became Apr. 11. According to the ancient Armenian calendar, Apr. 11 coincides with Apr. 24. They probably knew this also. They were still pursuing another cunning idea. At the end, it was decided that the opening of Ahtamar, now “Akdamar,” would take place on Mar. 29, as a restoration opening of a museum-church, without a cross or a bell.[32]

Turkish deputy minister for culture, İsmet Yılmaz cited technical reasons for not being able to place a cross atop the dome of the church:

“The reconstruction, which was carried out by Italian specialists, makes it impossible for the dome to support the 2-meter, 200-kilogram cross. If we put up the cross without making any changes, even a breeze will harm the dome. We plan to invite other specialists to solve this problem.”[29]

Although this explanation from the government met with doubts, after the cross was erected on the dome of the church in 2010 (which weighed 110 kg - about half of what the Turkish deputy minister spoke about), after 2011 Van earthquake cracks appeared around the dome of the church.[33]

Çandar notes that the Agos issue published on the day of the murder of Hrant Dink featured a Dink commentary on the Turkish government's handling of the Akdamar issue, which the late journalist characterized as "A real comedy... A real tragedy..." According to Dink,

The government hasn't still been able to formulate a correct approach to the “Armenian question.” Its real aim is not to solve the problem, but to gain points like a wrestler in a contest. How and when it will make the right move and defeat its opponent. That's the only concern. This is not earnestness. The state calls on Armenian historians to discuss history, but does not shy from trying its own intellectuals who have an unorthodox rhetoric on the Armenian genocide. It restores an Armenian church in the Southeast, but only thinks, “How can I use this for political gains in the world, how can I sell it?”[31][32]

Historian Ara Sarafian has answered some criticism of the Akdamar project, stating that, on the contrary, the project represents an answer to allegations of cultural genocide. He has stated that the revitalization of the site is "an important peace offering" from the Turkish government.[34]

The Armenian delegation attending the opening, led by the Deputy Minister of Culture and Youth Affairs; Gagik Giurjyan, faced obstacles on their way to the opening. They had to travel 16 hours by bus through Georgia to Turkey, due to the closure of the Turkish-Armenian border by Turkey.[35]

Ian Herbert, writing in The Independent, records his own experiences traveling in Turkey on an invitation from the Turkish government in the period of the opening of Akdamar:

So desperate is Mr Erdogan's government to demonstrate its tolerance of Turkey's 70,000 Armenian minority that it took journalists around the country this week. The trip revealed more than the government might have intended: Armenian schools in Istanbul where only the Turkish version of history - ignoring 1915 - is taught; Armenian priests who need metal detectors at their churches because of the threat of extremists; and, at the newspaper offices of the murdered Turkish-Armenian writer Hrant Dink, a stream of abusive emails from nationalists.[27]

Cengiz Aktar, an academic of Galatasaray University, also took a critical stance towards the loss of the island's original name in his article titled "White Vein church and others" (Akdamar means "white vein" in Turkish).[36]

Not all the comments were negative of the restoration of the church by the Turkish government. British historian of Armenian descent, Ara Sarafian considered the opening of the church for service as "a positive step".[37]

[edit]
  • The church in 1890.
    The church in 1890.
  • The church in 1923.
    The church in 1923.
  • The church in 2013.
    The church in 2013.
  • An Armenian cross-stone (khachkar) dated 1434 (in a photo published in 1913)
    An Armenian cross-stone (khachkar) dated 1434 (in a photo published in 1913)

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ de Waal, Thomas (2015). Great Catastrophe: Armenians and Turks in the Shadow of Genocide. Oxford University Press. p. 7. ISBN 978-0-19-935069-8. The island of Aghtamar on the inland sea of Lake Van is home to one of the most famous of all Armenian churches, a tenth-century cathedral...
  2. ^ Adalian, Rouben Paul (2010). Historical Dictionary of Armenia. Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press. p. 74. ISBN 978-0-8108-7450-3. AGHTAMAR. Island in Lake Van and location of one of the most important architectural monuments of medieval Armenia.
  3. ^ Avetisyan, Kamsar [in Armenian] (1979). "Աղթամար". Հայրենագիտական Էտյուդներ [Notes on Armenian Studies] (in Armenian). Yerevan: Sovetakan grogh. p. 196.
  4. ^ "Apricot and almond trees blossomed on Akhtamar Island of Lake Van". Armenpress. 12 April 2013.
  5. ^ Knight, Charles, ed. (1866). "Lake Van". Geography: Or, First Division of "The English Encyclopædia". London: Bradbury, Evans & Co. p. 519. There are some small islands in the lake, the principal of which is Akhtamar...
  6. ^ Վերանորոգումից հետո Վանի Ախթամար եկեղեցու բացումը տեղի կունենա սեպտեմբերին (in Armenian). Armenpress. 17 July 2006.
  7. ^ Tumanyan, Hovhannes (1891). "Ախթամար [Akhtamar]". toumanian.am (in Armenian). Hovhannes Tumanyan Museum. Archived from the original on 2016-10-11. Retrieved 2016-08-19.
  8. ^ Sirarpe Der Nersessian, "Aght'amar, Church of the Holy Cross", page 1.
  9. ^ a b "Multicultural Pasts as a Problem in the Construction of National Programs of Cultural Heritage in Modern Southeast Europe, paper read at the 10th Annual Kokkalis Program Workshop at Harvard University, February 7–8, 2007" (PDF). p. 2.[permanent dead link‍]
  10. ^ (in Armenian) Dzotsikian, S. M. Արեւմտահայ Աշխարհ (The World of the Western Armenian). New York: S. M. Dzotsikian Jubilee Committee, 1947, pp. 678-79.
  11. ^ Kudian, Mischa. Soviet Armenian Poetry. London: Mashtots Press, 1974, p. 4.
  12. ^ (in Armenian) Tumanyan, Hovhannes. Ախթամար (Akhtamar). Yerevan: Hayastan Publishing, 1969.
  13. ^ a b (in Armenian) Harutyunyan, Varazdat. "Ճարտարապետություն" [Architecture]. History of the Armenian People. vol. iii. Yerevan: Armenian Academy of Sciences, 1976, pp. 381-384.
  14. ^ Hewsen 2001, p. 208.
  15. ^ Hewsen 2001, p. 232: map 224
  16. ^ "Akdamar Island gets luminous twist". Today's Zaman. 15 September 2010. Archived from the original on 10 October 2012.
  17. ^ a b See additionally A. D. H. Bivar, "Review of Aght'amar: Church of the Holy Cross". Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies. Vol. 30, No. 2, 1967, pp. 409-410.
  18. ^ (in Turkish) "Acele Restorasyona Şeytan Karışır!." Agos. July 2, 2005.
  19. ^ (in Turkish) "Paylaşılan Bir Restorasyon Süreci: Akhtamar Surp Haç Kilisesi." Mimarizm. February 26, 2008.
  20. ^ (in Turkish) "Akthamar Kilisesi Restorasyonu Sempozyumu." Mimdap. February 26, 2008.
  21. ^ "Cultural Genocide" (PHP). Genocide-museum.am.
  22. ^ "The Genocide of Armenian Culture" (PDF). Wales-armenia.org.uk. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-10-05.
  23. ^ Yaşar, Kemal; Bosquet, Alain (1993). Yaşar Kemal kendini anlatıyor: Alain Bosquet'nin Yaşar Kemal' le konuşmaları - Toros Yayınları (in Turkish). Toros Yayınları. p. 67. ISBN 975-433-032-8.
  24. ^ Ziflioğlu, Vercihan (March 30, 2007). "Koç: Turkey has undertaken its cultural, historical responsibility". Turkish Daily News. Archived from the original on October 8, 2007.
  25. ^ a b "Ankara restores Armenian church." BBC News. March 29, 2007.
  26. ^ a b c Doğan, Ibrahim. "Restored Armenian church reopened with prayers as museum[permanent dead link‍]." Today's Zaman. March 30, 2007.
  27. ^ a b Herbert, Ian. "Turkish restoration of Armenian church leaves no room for apology." The Independent. March 30, 2007.
  28. ^ (in Turkish) "İşte Akdamar haçı Archived 2007-09-27 at the Wayback Machine." Habertürk. April 10, 2007.
  29. ^ a b "Detailed Report: The Mass in Akhtamar, and What’s Next." The Armenian Weekly. September 30, 2010.
  30. ^ (in Turkish) "Akdamar'ın haçı takıldı" Ntvmsnbc
  31. ^ a b Çandar, Cengiz (March 29, 2007). "Ahtamar Kilisesi ya da sözde Akdamar Müzesi" (in Turkish). Hurriyet.com.tr.
  32. ^ a b Çandar, Cengiz. "The so-called 'Akdamar Museum'[permanent dead link‍]." Turkish Daily News. March 30, 2007.
  33. ^ "Quake cracks dome of ancient Armenian church in Van". Today's Zaman. 28 October 2011. Archived from the original on 1 January 2012.
  34. ^ "Armenian historian: Akdamar Church re-opening a 'peace-offering' from Turkey." Hürriyet. April 9, 2007.
  35. ^ "Armenian Architecture - VirtualANI - Reopening of Holy Cross church on Aghtamar (Akdamar) Island". virtualani.org. Retrieved 2019-11-21.
  36. ^ (in Turkish) Aktar, Cengiz. Beyazdamar kilisesi ve diğerleri Archived 2007-09-27 at the Wayback Machine, March 23, 2007, Agos.
  37. ^ Gunaysu: Armenian, Turkish Publishers Launch Book on Akhtamar in Van, October 11, 2010, The Armenian Weekly.

Further reading

[edit]
  • Sirarpie Der Nersessian, Aght'amar, Church of the Holy Cross (Cambridge, Mass., 1964).
  • Sirarpie Der Nersessian and H. Vahramian, Documents of Armenian Architecture, Vol. 8: Aght'amar (Milan, 1974).
  • J. G. DavieMedieval Armenian Art and Architecture: The Church of the Holy Cross, Aght'amarmar (London, 1991).
  • Mnatsakanian, Stepan; Rainer K. Lampinen (1986). Varteres Karagozian (ed.). Aghtamar. Finland: Editions Erebouni. LCCN 86-80509.
  • Lynn Jones, Between Islam and Byzantium: Aght'amar and the Visual Construction of Medieval Armenian Rulership (Aldershot, Ashgate, 2007).
  • Hewsen, Robert H. (2001). Armenia: A Historical Atlas. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. ISBN 0-226-33228-4.
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