Another Armenian Church is Destroyed in Turkey

In the western province of Kütahya, Turkey, the Saint Thaddeus Armenian church has been destroyed. This was reported by human rights defender Arlet Natali Avazyan, who is known for her sharp criticisms directed at Turkish authorities.

“Do you have no respect for history at all? By erasing the history of Armenians, are you also disregarding their existence in these lands?” the human rights defender wrote, reminding about the history of the Saint Thaddeus church, referring to the book of Armenian intellectual Arshak Alboyajyan, where the author recounts his visit to the church's site.

The Saint Thaddeus church was built during the reign of Sultan Murad of the Ottoman Empire. Although the church was destroyed during the Jelali Rebellion in 1603, it was later reconstructed. Alboyajyan's book mentions that people believe the trace of Saint Thaddeus's horse's hoof is located on the very rock where the church was built. According to tradition, Turkish women would come and sit near the church to heal from ailments, asking priests to read sacred texts.

At one time, the church also served as a hall for events before it was completely closed. Describing his visit to the church, Alboyajyan wrote: “Now, a sign is posted on the outer door of the Saint Thaddeus church stating, 'Approaching the building is dangerous and prohibited.' When I approached people asking if it was possible to connect with the owner of the event hall, I expressed that we wish to pray at this old church. But someone named Suleyman responded that he had handed the keys to the owner. We spoke to the owner over the phone, and they said they would not allow us to enter.”