By Eva Sahakyan

YEREVAN, September 3 — The cross on the dome of the Armenian church Surb Khach will not be put in place before the liturgy on September 19 because of technical problems. The governor of Van mentioned that installing the 200 kg cross is difficult enough, Archbishop Aram Ateshian, the Armenian Deputy Patriarch of Constantinople, said after his meeting with the Governor of Van Myunir Karaloglu.

“The governor mentioned that the installation of the 200kg cross needs a special tower. On September 19, during the reopening ceremony of the church, the cross will be shown to the guests and immediately after the liturgy, they will start working on putting the cross on the dome,” Archbishop Ateshian said.

The Governor of Van said they will to do their best to organize the opening of the Armenian church. He promised to provide the guests with transport and to solve their lodging problems.

“We will host our guests in the best way,” Karaloglu said.

It’s worth reminding that in 2007 after the renovation work of the church the Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople Archbishop Mesrop Mutafian officially applied to the Turkish authorities with the request to allow them put the cross on the dome. In May 2010 the Turkish authorities officially agreed to the request.

The Patriarch of Constantinople ordered a special cross and sent it to Van, hoping that one day Turkey will satisfy his request.

Turkish news agencies write that this is the first case in Turkish history where Turkey officially allows the placement of a cross on such a significant Armenian church.

Yerevan Report