SERVICES TO BE HELD IN SURB KHACH
news.am
Nov 12 2009
Armenia
The Governor of Van (city in Turkey) Munir Karaoglu intends to
address Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism with a request to
authorize yearly services in Surb Khach church on Akhtamar Island,
Turkish Taraf daily reads.
According to him, church is a museum and thus cannot be open for
services just as Sofia Cathedral in Istanbul. "However, meeting
the request of Armenian Community, it is possible to allow it once
a year," he underlined. Governor said that he supports authorities’
policy on normalization of relations with Armenia, adding that border
opening will be mostly advantageous to Van.
The Surb Khach church was restored in 2007 and reopened on March 29.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
