A historic Armenian church in the town of Turgutlu in Turkey's Manisa province is currently under repair to later serve as a center for education, culture and art, Ermenihaber.am reports.

Before 2003, the church was used as a service building for the Turgutlu city hall.

In an interview with a Turkish TV channel, leader of Turgutly regional center from the ruling AK Party Muris Gedizli expressed concern over the possibility of the building to once again become a pilgrimage site.

The Turkish official was, perhaps, infuriated by the fact that even after serving other purposes for so many years, the church hasn't fallen into oblivion, still being referred to as an Armenian place of worship.

No information on the church's possible return to the Armenians has ever emerged though.