The 14th annual liturgy will be held this year at the Surp Haç/Khach (Holy Cross) Church on Akhtamar Island in Lake Van. The service, scheduled for September 6 and to be presided over by Sahak Maşalyan, Patriarch of the Armenians of Turkey, is expected to draw a large crowd.
The Ministry of Culture and Tourism began restoration work on the church in 2005. Following the completion of the restoration, the church was opened to visitors as a memorial museum in 2007 at an international ceremony. The historic church, which is opened for worship once a year with special permission from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, hosted its first liturgy in 95 years on September 19, 2010. A large number of visitors within Turkey and from abroad are expected to attend this year’s 14th annual service.
Erkan Avcı, a boat captain operating in the Gevaş district, said they were expecting a high turnout for this year’s liturgy.
Avcı said they had completed their preparations and added:
“We hope more visitors will come this year. We have also made all our preparations. We provide service here with 15 boats. Before the liturgy, we will also transport visitors who want to visit the island by boat to Akhtamar Island. We are standing by and ready. On Sunday, we will transport those coming for the service to the island with our boats.”
The Armenian Church will celebrate the Feast of the Holy Cross on September 13. The liturgy at Akhtamar is traditionally held one week earlier.
