Turkey Begins Restoration of 1876 Armenian Church Damaged in 2023 Earthquakes

A nearly 150-year-old Armenian church in southern Turkey is being restored after suffering extensive damage in the powerful earthquakes that devastated the region in 2023.

The Karasun Manuk Armenian Church in İskenderun, a coastal city in Hatay province, was heavily damaged in the Feb. 6, 2023, earthquakes. Part of the altar was destroyed, and other sections of the building were left in need of major repairs.

Built in 1876, the church has long served the local Armenian community.

Yusuf Tabash, chairman of the Karasun Manuk Armenian Church Foundation, said the restoration will be supported by 5 million Turkish liras, about $105,000, in state funding.

The church will close to worshippers by the end of the week as restoration work begins, Tabash said.

The project calls for repairs to the roof and floor, improvements to the drainage system and reconstruction of the damaged altars. Workers will also repair damaged sections of the walls while preserving the church’s historic appearance.

The restoration will extend to buildings next to the church, including shops that generate income for its operations.

Hatay was among the areas hardest hit by the 2023 earthquakes, which caused widespread destruction across southern Turkey and neighboring Syria and damaged numerous historic and religious sites.

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