Armenian tour operator cancels 200 tours to Sourb Khach
10:27 • 09.09.10
An Armenian tour operator has cancelled trips to Van where the Armenian tourists are on 19 September expected to attend a liturgy service in Sourb Khach Church on Akhtamar Island in Lake Van, former region of the Western Armenia which is currently in eastern Turkey.
Ashot Soghomonyan, the Director of Narekavanq touristic company told Tert.am that he has cancelled about 200 tickets.
"I have cancelled [the tickets]. I was going to take 200 people [to Van], I have booked a whole hotel, but I will not take them [the tourists to Van]. I will act in the way my country decides," said Mr Soghomonyan.
It comes after the Mother See of Holly Etchmiadzin annulled its decision to send it representatives to Van following the news that the Turkish authorities will not restore a cross atop the church.
The Patriarchate of Jerusalem also announced that it would not participate in the service, in light of Etchmiadzin recent posturing.
Vicar of the Istanbul Patriarchate, Archbishop Aram Ateshyan discussed the matter with a German publication. According to Asbarez.com, Ateshyan told the Deutche Welle that the Turkish-Armenian community's enthusiasm for the upcoming Mass at Holy Cross was shattered after news that a cross would not be installed atop the renovated 10th-century Armenian church, rationalizing that a cross would be installed after the scheduled services.
"The Van Governor promised the Armenian community that the cross would without fail be installed after the liturgy. We expected 5,000 people to take part in the liturgy, but the present situation has reduced the number - some people refused to participate. The Holy See of Etchmiadzin and Cilicia refused to participate in the services," Ateshyan told the German news organization.
The Mass, which the Turkish government has spearheaded as an effort to show the world its brand of tolerance for minorities, has been mired in controversy as Armenian political and religious forces have boycotted the event considering it merely a Turkish show.
Tert.am posted a poll asking what the readers thought about the attendance in the mass. The overwhelming majority of the voters said that it is a Turkish show and the Armenians must not attend it.
Tert.am
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