Turkey: government harassment of Orthodox monastery
December 10, 2010
The existence of the world’s oldest Syrian Orthodox monastery, located in Turkey, is threatened by the actions of government officials and Muslim Kurds, The Economist reports. Built in 397, Mor Gabriel Monastery predates the 451 schism that led the Orthodox Oriental churches to cease to be in full communion with the Holy See.
The government, which has long refused to allow the monks to register their ownership of the land, is now seeking to confiscate the monastery’s property.
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Further information:
- Wooing Christians: Some, but not all, want to improve the lot of Christians in Turkey (The Economist)
- Mor Gabriel Monastery
- The Syrian Orthodox Church of Antioch (CNEWA)
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