RESTORATION OF THE CROSS OF SURB KHACH CHURCH FOUND UNREASONABLE
By H. Chaqrian

AZG Armenian Daily
13/04/2007

Already on March 2 Minister of Culture and Tourism of Turkey Atilla
Koc stated that a cross shall be certainly placed on eth dome of the
Surb Khach church of Akhtamar if it originally had one. Nevertheless
he submitted patriarch Mesrob II Mutafian’s request to restore the
cross and allow yearly religious celebrations at Surb Khach to the
Foreign Ministry.

On April 11 "Miliet " newspaper expressed negative opinion about
the placement of a cross on the dome of Surb Khach. The article was
represented to the Culture Ministry and the Department of Historical
Memorials and Museums of Turkey.

According to "Milliet", the Foreign Ministry of Turkey says that "Aya
Sofia" temple ios also turned into a museum and neither Christian
or Muslim holy services are held there. The Ministy states that the
same status is given to the Surb Khach church. Therefore placing a
cross on its dome is unreasonable.