Turks prepare to prey in Cathedral of Ani

Chairman of opposition Turkish Nationalist Movement party Devlet Bahceli is going to pray a namaz in the ruins of Ani - ruined and uninhabited medieval city-site of Armenian origin situated in the Turkish province of Kars.

According to Turkish daily Sabah, Bahceli himself made the announcement during a party session.

Mr Bahceli, who was against the mass in Sourb Khach Church in Akhtamar Island, Van, has said that on 1 October he would not be in the parliament (the parliament starts its autumn session) but rather at the ruins of Ani where he will pray his namaz in the Cathedral of Ani, built by Alpaslan in 1064.

The construction of the Cathedral of Ani - one of the masterpieces of the medieval Armenian architecture - was initiated by the Armenian King Smbat II in 989. The church was built over by the Queen Katride, the wife of Gagik I Amatuni.

Ani's architect was Trdat.

In Turkish sources the Mother Church of Ani is mentioned as Fetihe Mosque.