The mayor of the Turkish Kayseri city (historic Caesarea) Mustafa Çelik visited the local Armenian St. Gregory the Illuminator Church.

During the visit, the mayor was accompanied by the head of the Church Foundation Zadik Toker and other leaders from the foundation.

The attendees have stated to the mayor that the exterior wall of the church may collapse over several years if there is no interference.

The mayor called the St. Gregory the Illuminator Church “one of the most important churches in Turkey” and noted that it should be preserved as one of the important cultural heritages of Turkey.

It should be noted that in March of the current year, the worldwide Armenians of Caesarea gathered around the 900th year-old St. Gregory the Illuminator Church, where a liturgy was served during of the Mid-Lent Sunday ritual.