Overall 4,000 families of the Turkish city of Van are ready to host Armenians who will come to participate in the opening ceremony of Surb Khach church on Akhtamar Island.

According to Anadolu news agency, there will be over 5,000 Armenian guests arriving in the city for a worship service. One of the local newspapers launched “We are opening our houses for Armenians” campaign, as the number of visitors is over the capacity of the local hotels.

Surb Khach church on Akhtamar Island functioning as a museum was restored in 2007 at the initiative of Van’s Governor and the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople. The church will be reopened for religious ceremonies on September 19, 2010. The cross will be put on the dome as well.