YEREVAN (Armenpress) – The Armenian Ministry of Culture is planning to discuss the issue of transporting an ancient Armenian church bell back from Iran with Tehran officials.
“The ministry of culture is planning to discuss this matter with the Iranian side with the purpose of solving the issue in line with international legal norms and procedures,” Deputy Minister Arev Samuelyan told Armenpress.
The Ministry of Culture contacted the ministry of foreign affairs for comprehensive information regarding the process.
According to the deputy minister, the return of cultural values to Armenia has happened in the past. For example in 2011, an Aivazovsky painting was returned to Armenia’s national gallery after being stolen 21 years earlier.
Iranian media said an ancient bell belonging to one of the Armenian Churches of Van, which due to unknown reasons appeared in north-western Iran, will be returned to the Holy Cross Church of Akhtamar.
Turkish media said the bell was given to Van’s St. Mariam Church on July 7, 1377. The bell reportedly appeared in Iran during wartime, and is still housed in a history museum in Urmia.
Persians should have known better, if Turks get this historical bell, then it will be hanged on top of Armenian Genocide site, where newly built Turkish style “shining toilet”, is a symbol of Turkish hate toward Armenians! I am sure Iran witnessed, destruction of historical Armenian cemetery in Julfa Nakhichevan by Axeri Turkic herds, ten years ago!!
Persians are notorious thieves so having it surface in Iran should not come as a surprise.
Who knows how many hands the bells went through. I’m surprised that they were not melted for cartriges. Luckily, they survived.