A plot of land historically belonging to an Armenian church in the village of Halfeti, located in Turkey’s Åžanlıurfa (Urfa) Province, has been put up for sale, reports Ermenihaber.
On February 5, a real estate agency listed the land for sale on its website, noting that the property”previously occupied by an “Armenian church and priest’s house””is being sold for 2,810,000 Turkish liras (approximately $77,500 USD). The total area of the property is 904 square meters, and the listing confirms that the building has a certificate of ownership.
A local resident, who lives near the church, confirmed the site’s Armenian origins, stating that Armenians once lived in the village and built the church and a priest’s house over a century ago. According to the resident, the Armenian population left the village around 120 years ago. Since then, part of the church has been repurposed into a mosque.
“There were ornamentations on the walls of the church, as well as on the priest’s house. However, those ornate walls collapsed due to the earthquake in February 2023,” the resident added. “The owner lived here before the earthquake, but we recently heard that he wants to sell it.”
The sale of the church’s land raises broader questions about the fate of Armenian historical sites in Turkey. Over the years, numerous Armenian churches, monasteries, and other heritage sites have been either abandoned, repurposed, or demolished following the forced displacement of Armenians during the early 20th century.
In many cases, these properties have fallen into private ownership or been repurposed for other uses, including mosques, warehouses, and residential buildings.
Heritage advocates have repeatedly called for the preservation and restoration of Armenian cultural sites in Turkey. In particular, The Saint Mother of God Armenian Church in Sivas (Sebastia, in Armenian) Province of Turkey was put up for sale in January last year.
The impact of the 2023 earthquake has further complicated efforts, as many historical structures in southeastern Turkey, including Armenian and Assyrian sites, sustained significant damage.
