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Authorities of Van city in eastern Turkey have started preparation works for the annual Divine Liturgy to be offered in the historic Armenian Church of the Holy Cross on Akhtamar Island, Ermenihaber reported. According to the source, the deputy governor of Van Ferhat Atar, the head of Gevash district (historically Vostan), officials from the Culture and Tourism regional department have visited the site and got familiarized with preparation works.

“In 2010, Turkey’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism adopted a protocol that envisaged seven liturgies in Akhtamar. The religious service didn’t take place for the past three years out of security concerns. Last year, it was offered and plans for this year are in place,” the head of Van culture and tourism department Muzafer Akturk told local media.

The Turkish official went on saying the Armenian liturgy remained a major event for the recognizability of Van and the tourism development in general. “All rooms in local hotels are booked for September with tourists set to attend the event,” the head of Van culture and tourism department added.

In his words, some 157.000 tourists visited Van in 2018, while the number for eight months of the ongoing year has already reached 162.000.

To note, the historic church re-opened in 2007 as a “monumental museum”. In 2010, the Cathedral hosted its first service after a 95-year break. The church opened its service every year for one day and the last service was conducted in 2015, which saw a gathering of thousands of local and international tourists in Van.

This year, the Divine Liturgy will take place on September 8.