Turkish officials may return ancient monastery’s land
October 10, 2013
The Assembly of Foundations, a Turkish governmental body, has approved the return of lands belonging to Mor Gabriel Monastery, a Syriac Orthodox monastery found in 397, the Istanbul-based Hürriyet Daily News reported.
The decision came one week after Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that “the land of the Mor Gabriel Monastery will return to the monastery’s foundation.”
In 2012, a Turkish court ruled that the monastery sits on land not owned by the monks, thus placing the monastery in danger of destruction.
The return of the land to the monastery requires the additional approval of land-registry officials.
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Further information:
- Return of Mor Gabriel Monastery lands to Syriacs officially approved (Hürriyet Daily News)
- The properties of the Monastery of Mor Gabriel returned to the Syriac Orthodox community (Fides)
- Ancient monastery in Turkey faces destruction in anti-Christian lawsuit (CWN, 7/12/12)
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