The Turkish mass media are making different comments on the opening ceremony of Surb Khach Church on Akhtamar Island on September 19.

Particularly, the Turkish website Haber27 showed religious intolerance, criticizing the Turkish authorities’ decisions to open the Sumela monastery and permit a liturgy in Surb Khach.

The source emphasizes the ruling Justice and Development Party, which has no limits in rendering services to Christians, allowed the cross to be delivered to Akhtamar under Armenians’ pressure and solved the problem,” the Haber 27 reads.

Other sources also say the transportation of the cross to Akhtamar Island solved the problem of installation of a cross on the church, whereas it was only placed in front of the church.