The demolition efforts in Alipaşa neighborhood of Amed’s Sur district include the demolition of the Surp Sarkis Church. Surp Sarkis was built in the 16th century, and was later used as a paddy factory and for paddy storage, so it is also called the “Paddy Church” by locals.

In recent times the church was a shelter for the homeless, but was abandoned as the demolitions started in the Alipaşa neighborhood. Surp Sarkis Church is known for its similarity with the Armenian church of Surp Giragos in the demolished part of the Sur district still under curfew.

The housing authority TOKİ has included Alipaşa and Lalebey neighborhoods in the demolition plans as tensions continue. The demolition has started in the Alipaşa neighborhood. Residents decided to not leave the neighborhood, which led to NGOs and political parties to form a platform against the demolitions and announce their support for the people. An “Earth Table”, where participants bring homemade food and eat a communal meal on the ground, was set up in Sur yesterday and the people broke their fast together.

The Sur district’s Alipaşa and Lalebey neighborhoods were declared “risky areas” by the Cabinet Decree No.2012/3900 dated November 4, 2012 and some 1200 residential and commercial buildings were set to be demolished. The demolition plans could not be carried out due to the neighborhood residents not leaving their homes.

The demolition efforts relaunched this May most recently. When the residents refused to leave, demolition started from damaged and previously evacuated buildings. Hundreds of families are in waiting, not leaving their homes.

Among the buildings scheduled for demolition in the Alipaşa neighborhood is the Surp Sarkis Church (Paddy Church), estimated to be from the 16th century.

Reports say the church property belongs to the Armenian Gregorian Congregation Foundation. The foundation hasn’t received any summons, while the church stands abandoned after the demolition decree in Alipaşa.

The fate of the Surp Sarkis Church, home to the homeless and the war-stricken, itself half in ruins, is unknown.