Catholicoses Urge Turkey to Return Confiscated Armenian Churches

Below is the full text of the joint statement issued on April 24, 2013 by Catholicos Karekin II and Catholicos Aram I, urging Turkey to return confiscated Armenian churches and church assets.

Sourp Khatch Church in Akhtamar, Van (Photo by Khatchig Mouradian)

In 2015, Armenians in the Republic of Armenia, the Republic of Nagorno Karabagh, and the Armenian Diaspora will commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide committed by the Ottoman Empire.
In 1915, more than 1.5 million Armenians became victims of genocide. The survivors on the roads of exile found shelter in Eastern Armenia, the present-day Republic of Armenia, Syria, Lebanon, and other Arab nations, and in a number of other countries of the world.
The genocide victims and the internally displaced people who lived under the jurisdiction of the Ottoman Empire in Western Armenia, Cilicia, and other regions of the Ottoman Empire, along with their own personal estates, also lost estates and holdings owned by the church–including churches, sanctuaries, and monasteries; religious, educational, and charitable institutional centers; treasures of cultural and religious value, cross-stones (khatchkars), illuminated manuscripts, icons and other items of value; and holdings owned by the state of Turkey under the classification of “abandoned estates.”
Now, 98 years after the genocide the present Turkish nation, as the successor of the Ottoman Empire, not only denies that its predecessors plotted and committed the genocide, but also continues its anti-Armenian policy, still retaining confiscated church estates and properties, and the religious and cultural treasures of the Armenian people.
Therefore, we call on the Republic of Turkey and demand the following:
to recognize the Armenian Genocide;
to fully compensate the Armenians who suffered losses and the violation of their human and national rights; and
to immediately return the Armenian churches, monasteries, church properties, and spiritual and cultural treasures to the Armenian people as their rightful owner.
Remembering the victims of the Armenian Genocide with prayers, we condemn any violation against God-given life, human dignity, and the peaceful coexistence of people  “For God is not the God of discord, but of peace ” (Corinthians  14.33), and has called on people for love, solidarity, and cooperation.
With gratitude we honor all nations and peoples who gave shelter to the Armenians displaced by genocide, and showed compassion and brotherly love for the dispersed and exiled Armenians.
The Armenian nation will also be eternally grateful to all the nations that, guided by the principles of humanity and justice, have condemned and officially recognized the Armenian Genocide.
On the eve of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, we must put all of our efforts into action to realize the demands of the Armenian nation for the sake of justice and the defense of the rights of all Armenians.
HIS HOLINESS KAREKIN II,
SUPREME PATRIARCH AND CATHOLICOS OF ALL ARMENIANS
HIS HOLINESS ARAM I,
CATHOLICOS OF THE GREAT HOUSE OF CILICIA