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LRAPER - EARTHQUAKE-STRICKEN CHURCH REINAUGURATED
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ISTANBUL, 06/11/99 (Lraper) -- The Holy Mother-of-God
Armenian Church of Bakirkoy, one of the nine Armenian churches
which had received cracks on its walls, was reopened
to worship during a solemn service this morning.
Presiding over the service was His Beatitude Patriarch Mesrob II
of Istanbul, accompanied by His Grace Bishop Aris Shirvanian,
the Very Reverend Fathers Aram Ateshian, Hampartsum Keshishian,
Sahag Mashalian and Zakeos Ohanian.
The building of the Bakirkoy Church, which has a baptized
membership of nearly 15,000 people, had deep fissures in the gallery,
the corners, and the ceiling above the chancel. The Parish Council
had decided to go ahead with the repair and restoration work which
was completed at the end of October.
On the other hand, the Geneal Directorate of Public Trusts (Vakiflar
Genel Mudurlugu) has approved the repair and renovation project
of the Armenian Patriarchate in Kumkapi. The approvals of the
Municipality (Belediye) and the Board of Higher Monuments (Yuksek
Anitlar Kurulu) are also needed before work may begin in January 2000.
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