Aghtamar ‘Cross will be Erected after Ceremony’

There had been problems surrounding erecting a 100-kilogram cross on top of the Cathedral of the Holy Cross on Aghtamar Island, but the problem was mostly solved by temporarily placing the cross on a wooden base, reports Today’s Zaman.

Turkish officials said there were difficulties in erecting the cross on the steeple in time for the historic service, leading to the temporary solution.

Armenian Patriarchate clergymen from İstanbul will decide where to display the cross — inside or outside of the church — until it is erected on the church after the service and when preparations are complete.

Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople Tatul Anushian told Today’s Zaman that, according to Turkish officials, the cross would be permanently placed on the church after the service.

It should be noted that, according to Turkish authorities, 118 Turkish and 27 foreign media have received accreditation to cover the liturgy at Aghtamar’s Holy Cross Armenian Church.