Mayor of Diyarbakir Osman Baydemir welcomes the reopening of St Giragos church and promises surprises for Armenians during its opening ceremony.

At the meeting with Armenian and Turkish journalists, Baydemir did not specify when the re-opening of the church is scheduled for.

“The date of the opening ceremony is yet unclear. We will discuss the date and preparations for church’s reopening with honorary guests from Istanbul (representatives of Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople). I promise the church will reopen with a cross on the dome of St Giragos Church,” Baydemir stressed.

The Mayor also stressed they will prepare surprises for Armenians, but declined to go into details. He said they would like to see representatives from Turkey, Armenia and other countries during the opening ceremony.

Restoration project estimated at $2.5 m is carried out by Surb Giragos foundation set up by Armenians of Diyarbekir.

Resurrecting memories of the Armenian presence, workers in Diyarbakır are putting the finishing touches to restore what was once one of the largest churches in the Middle East, St. Giragos.