The September 19 liturgy in Surb Khach Church on Akhtamar Island was not the end but the beginning, literary critic Vardan Devrikyn told the reporters on September 20.

According to him, if the Turkish Government keeps its promise and erects the cross on the dome of the church in 1.5 months, it will initiate a new matter for debates among Armenian society.

“The question “to go or not to go” will be raised again.”

Devrikyan said the cross will be installed on the church on October 24. According to him, this is right before the Holy Cross religious holiday on October 27. Turkey will raise the cross to trigger Armenians to go on a pilgrimage and face the problem once again.

He also stressed that the liturgy in Surb Khach should not have been so politicized. “Fortunately, the Armenian authorities have remained neutral on the matter.”

In conclusion, Devrikyan said Turkey has no fears about its history given their power. However, Samvel Karapetyan, an expert on historic monuments disagreed, “Turkey is terrified of its history and that is not an enviable position.”