95 Years Later: Divine Liturgy to be Held at the Church of the Holy Cross in Akhtamar

The preparations for the Divine Liturgy to be held at the Armenian Church of the Holy Cross on Akhtamar Island in Lake Van this year have begun. The first liturgy after a 95-year hiatus was conducted on September 19, 2010, with special permission from the Turkish Ministry of Tourism and Culture.

This year's ceremony, which will take place on September 8, is set to be the 12th such event, attracting thousands of tourists from Turkey and abroad. Gayané Gevorgyan, an Armenian resident of Van, invited all Armenians living in Turkey and around the world to attend the ceremony during an interview with the Armenian weekly newspaper 'Agos,' published in Turkey. She also expressed hope that even more people would visit the Church of the Holy Cross this year.