A cross that had been commissioned by the Armenian Patriarchate of Turkey was installed Saturday on an Armenian church on Akdamar Island in the eastern province of Van.
A historic religious service took place at the Armenian Church of the Holy Cross on the island of Akdamar in Van on Sept. 19, the first in 100 years, following a proposal from the Van Governor’s Office and approval from Culture and Tourism Minister Ertuğrul Günay. The service was marked by controversy over the placement of a cross, which emerged after Turkish authorities failed to erect a cross that had been prepared for the purpose atop the church.
It took only a day’s work to place the cross, which is 2 meters long and weighs 110 kilograms, on top of the church, after it was blessed by Armenian clergy members. The cross had been brought to the city on a private plane.
The church on Akdamar Island was built by Architect Bishop Manuel between A.D. 915-921 under the supervision of Armenian King Gagik I.
An American visitor to the island, Eric Miller, said the cross will be a positive step in relations between Turkey and Armenia. Selçuk Yıldırım, a Turkish visitor to the church, recalled that many Armenians did not attend the service on Sept. 19 due to the controversy over the cross, and said: “We had a good friendship with Armenia before. The placement of the cross was an important step to continue this friendship. I think it will contribute to the improvement of the relationship between the two countries.”
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