Calls to Restore the Msho Surb Arakelots Monastery in Turkey

A group of citizens, including the president of the '1071 Alp Arslan' union, Tugay Özyıldız, has called on local authorities to restore the partially ruined Msho Surb Arakelots Monastery, located within the current borders of the Republic of Turkey. This is reported by Akunq.net, citing a publication from the Anadolu Turkish news agency.

The Turkish citizens toured the Armenian church devastated by treasure hunters and expressed their desire for the historical monument to be renovated to promote tourism in the region.

In an interview with a correspondent from the agency, the president of the '1071 Alp Arslan' union stated: 'As a civil society organization, we had the opportunity to visit this place, where we conducted studies. The church is currently in ruins, primarily due to the attitude of treasure seekers and uninformed individuals. We ask that such sites be restored to boost tourism development.'

Naturally, the Turkish state agency does not mention the Armenian identity of the monastery. The Msho Surb Arakelots Monastery, which is presently located in the village of Kepenek (Arak), subordinate to the center of the Mush province, was founded in the 4th century by St. Gregory the Illuminator. Prior to the Armenian Genocide in 1915, it was one of the most significant sanctuaries in the area. In 1960, the monastery was blown up with dynamite by the Mush provincial governor, resulting in only two churches surviving from this monastic complex to this day. The monastery was renovated in 1125. On the eastern side of the monastery, there were nine khachkars. During the Armenian Genocide of 1915, the Turks attacked the monastery and killed its last caretaker, Father Hovhannes Vardapet Muradyan.