The Turkish State TRT TV channel is the only station which is allowed to film in Surb Khach Church on Akhtamar Island, our NEWS.am correspondent reports from Van. The representatives of other mass media, particularly reporters of the foreign press are sometimes allowed to enter the church and film.

At the moment the participants of the liturgy are waiting for the prayer  by the Armenian Deputy Patriarch of the Constantinople Archbishop Aram Ateshyan to begin. In his speech, the Archbishop is expected to thank the Turkish authorities for the permission to conduct a religious service once a year in Surb Khach.

As reported previously, only the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople is participating participate in the liturgy in Surb Khach. The Holy See of Echmiadzin, the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem and the Holy See of Cilicia refused to take part in the liturgy in Surb Khach (Holy Cross) due to the Turkish authorities’ decision to install the cross on the church until after the liturgy.