150-year-old Georgian Church in Turkish city of Kars looted
The 150-year-old Georgian Church in Kars was plundered by treasure hunters. The church is expected to be taken under protection
In Kars, one of the most important tourism centers of Türkiye, historical buildings are disappearing one by one.
Treasure hunters have vandalized the historic church beneath the castle in Kars’ central Kaleici neighborhood, digging up its interior and damaging its walls with numerous holes.
Treasure hunters have not only removed stones from the Georgian Church in Kars’ Bedesten District, a significant site in the city, but they have also targeted stones bearing the sign of the cross. The church’s fate remains uncertain after this brazen act of vandalism.
Stating that the church was destroyed by treasure hunters, citizens said, “We live near the area known as the Yellow Church, which is the Georgian Church under Kars Castle. The church has not been protected and restored by the Cultural Assets in any way, it is falling apart day by day, the condition of the historical structure is deplorable, especially in the Kars region. Treasure hunters have excavated here, damaging the stones randomly. We fear the church won’t survive if this continues – it might disappear within a few years.”
The lack of sufficient appreciation for historical artifacts is evident in the city with Türkiye’s most significant historical values. The Georgian Church in Kars, akin to an open-air museum, fell victim to treasure hunters’ excavation. These hunters went to extreme lengths, breaking through wall coverings and leaving the church in ruins. Despite being riddled with pits inside and around its premises, the church somehow stands resilient against complete demolition.
Source: Newsroom
