Turkish organization wants to disturb baptism ceremony to be held in St. Cross Church of Akhtamar

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 7, ARMENPRESS. Turkish "ASIMTER" anti-Armenian organization wants to disturb baptism ceremony, which is scheduled to be held on September 8 in the Armenian Saint Cross Church on the Akhtamar Island of Van. As reports "Armenpress", Turkey-based "Marmara" Armenian periodical stated this.

Among other things the periodical noted that the members of the aforesaid organization plan to march to the Armenian Saint Cross Church on the Akhtamar Island of Van. In addition the periodical highlighted: "'ASIMTER' is an abbreviation of the words, which can be translated as "Struggle against baseless Armenian claims". From time to time the organization puts forward strange demands, notwithstanding the last statement surpassed all the previous announcements. "ASIMTER" claimed that the Church in Akhtamar belonged to the Christian Turks and not the Armenians. Their claim is based upon the sculpture of a horseman in the aforesaid church, which releases an arrow from a bow. The members of the organization claim that only the Turks could shoot an arrow in that fashion."

The preparatory activities advancing the Divine Liturgy, which is scheduled to be held on September 8 in the Armenian Saint Cross Church on the Akhtamar Island of Van, come to end. The workers of the city hall of Gevaş district of Van Province cleaned the territory of the island and prepared the ships which will bring the pilgrims to the Akhtamar Island. As reports "Armenpress" citing Turkish Demokrathaber.net, a huge tent has been located in front of the church to protect the visitors from the sun.

4 years after the reopening of the Armenian Saint Cross Church on the Akhtamar Island of Van, the first baptism ceremony will be held at the Church. It will be carried out on September 8.

The Armenian Saint Cross Church on the Akhtamar Island was renovated and opened for the visitors as a museum in 2007. The Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople applied to the Turkish Government to permit holding a liturgy at the Armenian Church once a year. The Turkish Government announced permission for a liturgy to be said on September 19, 2010 and the service took place as planned. On September 30 2010 a cross was placed on the top of the Church, anointed by the leader of the spiritual council of the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople Archimandrite Tatul Anushyan.