OPENING OF SOURB KHACH ARMENIAN CHURCH TO BE HELD TODAY ON AKHTAMAR ISLAND IN VAN

Arminfo
2007-03-29 13:35:00

A solemn ceremony of opening of the restored Sourb Khach Armenian
church will be held today on Akhtamar island in Van.

A Governmental delegation, headed by RA deputy Minister of Culture
and Youth Gagik Giurjyan, has departed the day before from Yerevan
to participate in the opening ceremony. The delegation has left
for Turkey by bus by a Georgian- Turkish border, since there is no
Yerevan-Van direct flight.

To note, the restored church, dated the 10th Century, will function
as a museum, that caused a number of reclamations by the Armenian
ecclesiastics.

Thus, the Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II had flatly refused
to participate in the opening of the church, motivating his refusal
by the fact that the church, turned to a museum, will not function
under the power of the Constantinople Patriarchy.

To note, the Government of Turkey had allotted $1,5 mln to restore
the church.