news.am, Armenia
March 26 2010
Aram Ateshyan to conduct annual religious service at Surb Khach
15:26 / 03/26/2010After the Turkish authorities allowed annual
religious services to be held at the Surb Khach church on Akhtamar
Island, an IHA correspondent met with Head of Religious Council of the
Armenian Patriarchate Archbishop Aram Ateshyan.
Ateshyan said that no official notification has yet been received from
the Patriarchate, but they are happy over the news. `When the Surb
Khach church opened in 2007 as museum, we asked for religious services
to be allowed there at least once a year. I will conduct this year’s
service on the occasion of Holy Cross of Varag holiday on September
12. I believe, numerous Armenians from various parts of the world will
come to attend the service that day,’ Ateshyan said.
Turkish Minister of Culture and Tourism Ertugrul Gunay signed the Van
Governor’s application for permission of annual religious services at
Surb Khach church.
T.P.