Armenian church seeks return of ancient land from Turkey

October 02, 2014

A leading figure in the Armenian Apostolic Church is seeking the return of his historic see from Turkey, according to a report from the Armenian news site Panorama.

“The Armenian Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia will soon present its legal claims to Turkey’s Constitutional Court, demanding the return of its historic seat, the Sis Catholicosate, to its rightful owners-- the Armenian Church and the Armenian people,” said Catholicos Aram I, whose see is now located in Lebanon

“If Turkey’s Constitutional Court rejects our claims, we will immediately present our case to the European Court of Human Rights,” he added. “If we win the case, the honor and victory will belong to our nation and Church. And if we lose the case, that will also be a victory, because in presenting our case we will have reminded the perpetrators and the international community that the Armenian nation remains committed to demanding its rights no matter the number of years that distance it from the onset of the genocide.”

The Armenian Apostolic Church is among the Oriental Orthodox churches that ceased to be in full communion with the Holy See following the Ecumenical Council of Chalcedon (451). Its spiritual head is Catholicos Karekin II; the sees governed by Karekin II and Aram I are administratively independent.

 

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Further information:

• Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia Aram I (Panorama)