Once turned into hayloft, Armenian church to be renovated in Turkey

March 12, 2014 - 11:18 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - Once an Armenian church, a historical construction in the eastern province of Van had been converted into a hayloft after serving as a school for some time, Hurriyet Daily News reports.

Nevertheless, the residents of Korlu village (30 kilometers from Van), who fill the facility with hay, grass, cowpat and wood, have personally appealed to authorities to renovate it.

Considering the villagers request, Van Culture and Tourism Provincial Director Muzaffer Aktu said the renovation could be started soon.

The historical church had served as a primary school for five years when there was no school in the area 30 years ago. Thirty-five students were taught at the school, before it was abandoned and converted into a hayloft by villagers.

Villagers have attached a wooden door to the church, some parts of which are about to collapse, and tried to restore to prevent it from collapsing.

Tourists had come to the village to look at the church, but it was mostly neglected.

For us, the church has a particular value because we graduated from here when we did not have a school. Now it is used as a hayloft. We want officials to restore the church and use it for tourism, said villager Selim Gurban.

Aktu said he would give instructions to the Van Museum Directorate to learn about the churchs situation and whether it was suitable for restoration.

Work will start according to the report after it is made by museum officials. We will discuss the report with the Van Monuments Directorate and we will renovate it if that is ultimately decided [by the directorate], Aktu said.

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Once turned into hayloft, Armenian church to be renovated in Turkey