ANSAmed – Italy
March 25, 2010 Thursday 12:24 PM CET

TURKEY: PERMISSION FOR RITE AD AKDAMAR CHURCH IN LAKE VAN;
ONLY ONCE A YEAR, THE RITE IS EXPECTED TO BOOST FAITH TOURISM

ANKARA

(ANSAmed) A religious rite may take place once every year at eastern
province of Van’s Akdamar Church upon a proposal by the Van
Governorship and approval by the Turkish Minister of Culture and
Tourism Ertugrul Gunay, Anatolian News Agency reports. The rite at the
Akdamar Church may take place each year in the second week of
September.

Governor of Van Munir Karaloglu said that the decision to permit a
rite at Akdamar Church (Church of the Holy Cross) will boost faith
tourism in the region and provide important advantages for those in
the tourism sector. Akdamar is a ruined Armenian cathedral in Eastern
Anatolia. Situated on a small island in the beautiful mountain setting
of Lake Van, the Akdamar church dates from the 10th century and is
famed for the fascinating reliefs carved on the exterior.

The Church was once an important Armenian cathedral. The seat of the
Armenian patriarch from 1116 to 1895, the cathedral was founded by
King Gagik between 915 and 921 as part of a royal complex that
included a palace, monastery, streets, gardens and terraced parks. It
was abandoned due to conflict between Armenia and the Ottoman Empire.
The building fell into disrepair and was neglected throughout the 20th
century.

The cathedral was restored by the Turkish government beginning in May
2005. The restoration cost USD 1.5 million and took 18 months to
complete. At a ceremony on March 29, 2007, it was officially opened as
a museum. The restoration project was seen as a diplomatic step by
Turkey to improve relations with Armenia. (ANSAmed). The church was
restored recently.