Announcement on conduction of religious ceremonies twice a year in Surb Giragos church in the Turkish city of Diyarbekir was handed to Constantinople Patriarchate of the Armenian Apostolic Church.  

Liturgies will be resumed in 600-year-old Surb Giragos church that is currently being restored, Haberturk reported.

Restoration project estimated at $2.5 m is carried out by Surb Giragos foundation set up by Armenians of Diyarbekir. Foundation chairman Tekin Papucyan noted that the church was repaired in early 1990s. However, after Armenian community left Diyarbekir religious services have not been conducted there since 1978 and the church was abandoned. “My children were also born in Istanbul and have not seen Diyarbekir. We plan to complete restoration works in 2011. Diyarbekir city hall also assists the project,” Surb Giragos foundation chairman said