A new bell weighing 100 kilograms will be placed atop the recently renovated St. Giragos Armenian Apostolic Church in Diyarbekir next month.

A gift from the Russian-Armenian community, the bell has been forged to resemble the original one that adorned the tower of the church prior to 1915.

The tower was destroyed by cannon fire that year because it was taller than the local minarets.

Canadian artist Raffi Bedrosian, who contributed on the church’s restoration commented to Hyurriet Daily News that, ““This church, the greatest Armenian Church in the Middle East, is a clear evidence of Armenian influence in Anatolia before 1915 and now it has become a pilgrimage place for all Armenians from Turkey, Armenia and the diaspora,”

Bedrosian also hopes to restore the historical Varagavank Monastery located in the eastern province of Van.