Diyarbakir St. Giragos Armenian Church Awarded EU Cultural Heritage Prize

DIYARBAKIR — The Armenian Church of St. Giragos in Diyarbakir (Tigranakert) was awarded the Prize for Cultural Heritage by the European Union, Anadolu Agency reports.

“This church should be known all around the world,” head of the St. Giragos Church Foundation, Ergün Ayik, said on Wednesday.

The church was built in 1376 and restored in 2011.

Ayik noted that the award was prestigious not only for the church and the region, but also for the whole country.

He stated that he was pleased with the fact that the church was saved from destruction and added that six years ago, no one believed the restoration of the church would take place.

“Armenians from the U.S., Canada, France, Germany and the Netherlands come here to visit the church,” said Ayik, adding that the complex contributed to boosting tourism in the province.

The ceremony for the European Union Cultural Heritage Awards will be held on June 11 in Oslo.

Diyarbakir St. Giragos Armenian Church Awarded EU Cultural Heritage Prize