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Sur region of Diyarbakir has been severely damaged after being subject to a curfew and continuing clashes for the past 78 days. By referring to Turkish «Dicli» news agency, “Ermenihaber” informs that Saint Giragos, the biggest Armenian church in the Middle East, has been partially damaged.
According to the photos and the news published in the social networks, Saint Giragos was among other historical places, which were ruined in this region. The walls of Saint Giragos were damaged in order to enter to the church.

The member of the executive council of the church, Gaful Turkay stated that previously there were ringing both calls of adhan (Islamic call to worship) and Armenian church bells in Sur. But now, there are neither rings of the church, nor calls of adhan.

Gafur Turkay said that after publishing the photos of ruined church in the press, Armenians from Turkish different cities as well as from Europe and the US started to call them to get any information reagrding the church.

Turkay noted that famous historical mosque ‘Kurşunlu Cami” was also destroyed in Sur.
Since Sur is considered as closed territory, they were not able to get any information on the scopes of damage of Saint Giragos church. Even state officials are not giving any information on this issue.
The chief editor of Armenian “Agos” newspaper in Turkey, Eduard Danzikyan, told Armenian journalists that the pictures published in media illustrate Saint Sargis Armenian church in Diyarbakir, not Saint Giragos church.

It should be noted, that Saint Giragos church was restored and reopened after 97 years of inaction, on November 4,2012  and united all Armenians of Diyarbakir and nearby regions.

The church has become a place for returning to the roots, to Christian traditions, and was strengthening the ties among Armenian community members.

Gaful Turkay stated that closing the church would shock Armenians and would cause sorrow and disappointment to the local Armenian community.