“I am ready to hand the church over to the ministry of culture”: Fatih Altayli

The land on which the Varakavank monastery complex (the Seven Churches), built in the 8th century, stands in Van belongs to the family of journalist Fatih Altayli. This structure, which holds an important place in Armenian architecture and cultural heritage, is falling into disrepair with each passing day. Altayli himself recently stated that he is prepared to transfer the church to the country’s ministry of culture free of charge.

“The land on which the church or church complex stands does not belong to me. That land is still registered in my grandfather’s name. If the ministry of culture wishes, let them come, and I will speak with the other members of the family. Let them take it and use it, let them expropriate it without compensation, we are not church enthusiasts,” Altayli said on Nil Gulsum’s YouTube program.

He explained how the land on which the church sits came into his family’s possession. “I have no firsthand information, but as I was told, when the government was constructing public buildings on part of the family’s land, the state exchanged some of its land for other property, and one of those properties was the church. We did not demolish the church, we did not try to sell it, it is still standing,” the journalist said.

This matter has long been on the Armenian community’s agenda. The Varakavank complex in Van is of great significance from the standpoint of architecture, religion, and Armenian heritage in these lands, but due to neglect it has deteriorated over the years and is on the verge of collapse.

The issue was also raised during the visit of Sahak Mashalyan, patriarch of the Armenian Apostolic Church’s Constantinople diocese, to Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, minister of culture and tourism, in December 2025. The patriarch emphasized that the restoration and opening of the Varakavank monastery in Van to visitors would make a significant contribution to regional tourism, as well as serve the preservation of cultural and historical heritage. In a subsequent statement about the meeting, Patriarch Mashalyan said he had reminded the minister that “the state can still take this site under its control,” and that Minister Ersoy said he would look into the matter after Altayli’s release from prison as Altayli was incarcerated at the time.

It is worth noting that the monastery, which had gone unrepaired for years and sustained progressively worsening damage during earthquakes, is now partly under the protection of the local Armenian community.