Новините от и за Турция-12.04.09 г.

Българската екзархия в Истанбул отбеляза Цветница

12 април 2009 | 17:35 | Агенция "Фокус"

Истанбул. С църковна служба и празничен обяд Българската екзархия в Истанбул отбеляза един от най-хубавите православни празници – Цветница, предаде БНР. Гости от Варна създадоха допълнителни емоции със своите песни и танци. С цветя и осветени върбови клонки, които според християнските поверия предпазват от болести и злини, истанбулските българи днес присъстваха на службата за Цветница. Тя се отслужи в църквата „Свети Йоан Рилски” от българския свещеник Ангел.
След това в салона на Екзархията по инициатива на Женското дружество „Радост” се състоя тържество за именниците. Специално за Цветница в Екзархията гостува Варненското македонско дружество. Те поднесоха в дар на българската общност икона, книги и сувенири от България. След църковната служба се състоя другарски обяд, на който, според християнските традиции, се поднесе риба. Гостите изнесоха богата музикална програма. В Истанбул така започна седмицата на великденските празници. Председателят на Църковното настоятелство информира, че в събота срещу неделя в Екзархията ще се отслужи първо Възкресение и традиционното обикаляне на църквата в полунощ със свещи, а в неделя Великден, в църквата „Свети Стефан”, която е обявена за най-красивата църква на Турция, ще се отслужи второ Възкресение.
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40 days and 40 nights of festivities in old Anatolia
ISTANBUL - For hundreds of years, Easter celebrations in Anatolia were inclusive festivities and a time of great joy in the region.

40 days and 40 nights of festivities in old Anatolia The celebrations lasted 40 days and 40 nights, and peoples’ doors were always open, so while each community celebrated Easter in its own way, they also shared their traditions with others. The women of every household would wake up early to prepare the feast. Special loaves of bread, traditional dishes and sweets would adorn the tables, with the elderly women of the family teaching the younger generation how things should be done.

Easter eggs were a mainstay of the events and they took special expertise to prepare. Red onions would be peeled and their skins set aside to be used for coloring the eggs. The eggs and the onion skins would be boiled together for hours, until the eggs turned red. Special vegetables and an insect that secreted a red, ink-like substance would also be used to color eggs, a tradition that is still prevalent among Anatolian Christians, as well as those in Armenia. The bugs are called "vortan garmir," or worm’s red, and their secretions are also used in other dyes.

For Christians, the red used to color Easter eggs symbolizes Jesus’ blood. However, the practice of coloring eggs goes back to pre-Christian pagan traditions and the spring festivals held in Anatolian communities. People believed that the eggs would trap the devil inside forever, guaranteeing that the world would live in peace and prosperity.

40 days and 40 nights
For Anatolian Christians, Easter was marked by a 40-day period of fasting and mourning, followed by celebration. On Easter morning, the first thing people would do was attend church services. Families would don their best clothes for the occasion. In villages without a church, priests would come to lead a prayer and bless the homes.

The festivities would last until the middle of the night, with songs and dancing. These occasions were also an opportunity for young men and women to pick their future spouses. Muslims were not excluded from the festivities and were in fact an integral part of them. Hurriyet
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GOOD MORNING--TURKEY PRESS SCAN ON APR 12
These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in the Turkish press on April 12, 2009. Hurriyet Daily News Online does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy. (UPDATED)

GOOD MORNING--TURKEY PRESS SCAN ON APR 12

HURRIYET
-- Zeki Sezer RESIGNS
Zeki Sezer, the leader of Turkey's opposition Democratic Left Party (DSP), has resigned after his party won 2.42 percent in the local elections. Sezer said that his party could not get the result that it expected from the local elections held on March 29. Sezer said he would die as a democratic leftist.

-- SEVEN TERRORISTS KILLED
A clash took place between Turkish soldiers and a group of terrorists in southeastern province of Turkey. Two Turkish soldiers Tuncay Turken and Emre Ansin died in the clash. Seven terrorists were killed in the operation.

MILLIYET
-- AYDIN DOGAN BECOMES TAX CHAMPION OF ISTANBUL
Aydin Dogan has been reported to become the tax champion of Istanbul in 2008. Aydin Dogan, the head of the executive board of the company Dogan Holding, paid nearly 13 million TL income tax. Businessman Rahmi Koc who paid 18 million TL income tax became the tax champion of Turkey.

-- TWO TURKISH SOLDIERS DIE IN SIRNAK
PKK terrorists have begun to wage attacks with the beginning of spring. A clash took place in southeastern province of Sirnak. Private soldiers Tuncay Turken and Emre Ansin died in the clash. Seven terrorists were killed in the operation.

SABAH
-- GLOBAL ROOF FOR TURKISH BUSINESSPEOPLE
World Turkish Business Council has been established to strengthen "Turkish diaspora." Rifat Hisarciklioglu has become its first chairman. The council aims to gather all Turkish businessmen in the world under single roof, consolidate cooperation and carry out lobbying activities. The council board has 15 members.

-- DOMESTIC MARKET WILL SAVE TURKEY
Mustafa Koc, chairman of Turkey's conglomerate Koc Holding, says he expects Turkey to grow 2 percent in 2010. "I am optimistic. If consumer confidence is restored, domestic market will stir," Koc says.

VATAN
-- GET OFF HIS BACK
They caused "YouTube ban" in the name of protecting Ataturk and put Turkey to shame. It was not enough. Now they want to ban Google. Kemalist Thought Association filed complaint against Google, the world's largest internet search engine, on grounds that it has libellous content against Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of Turkey.

-- TWO SOLDIERS, SEVEN PKK TERRORISTS KILLED
Turkish security forces had a clash with a group of PKK terrorists in the southeastern province of Sirnak's Bestler-Dereler region. Two Turkish soldiers were martyred. Turkish security forces also killed seven PKK terrorist in clashes that continued until the morning. Turkish soldiers will be laid to rest on Sunday.

CUMHURIYET
-- "INVASION WILL BE LEGAL IF BORDER IS OPENED"
Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) Chairman Deniz Baykal said Turkey's policy on Caucasia should be followed together with Azerbaijan. Baykal said the government has changed its stance. "First they said borders should be opened and then called for joint history committee. Opening border before invasion is over means indirect recognition of invasion of Azerbaijani territory," Baykal said.

-- KOC IN TURKEY, DOGAN IN ISTANBUL
Businessman Rahmi Koc, honorary chairman of Turkish conglomerate Koc Holding, has become the tax champion in Turkey. He declared 51.4 million TL income for 2008. Dogan Holding Chairman Aydin Dogan was on the top of the tax league in Istanbul. Dogan declared 36 million TL income. He will pay 13 million TL of income tax.

RADIKAL
-- SEZER ANNOUNCES HIS RESIGNATION
Democratic Left Party (DSP) chairman Zeki Sezer has resigned from his post. Sezer announced his resignation at a meeting of mayors on Saturday. Sezer also said he would not become a candidate in the general congress of DSP.

-- AYDIN DOGAN BECOMES TAX CHAMPION OF ISTANBUL
Aydin Dogan, the head of executive board of Dogan Holding, became the tax champion of Istanbul in 2008. Dogan paid a 13 million TL income tax last year. The list of tax champions of Turkey will be made public on April 15.

YENI SAFAK
-- DSP HAS 29 MILLION TL
Zeki Sezer, leader of the opposition Democratic Left Party (DSP), has resigned as party chairman, saying that he got the message given by people in March 29 local elections. He said, "we can not consider our party successful although we increased our votes." Sezer gave information about party's financial figures and said he was leaving 29 million TL in party's bank accounts.Hurriyet