The annual holy mass in the reconstructed Armenian church on Turkey’s Akhtamar island has been cancelled over fears of new terrorist acts.The Armenian patriarchate made a decision to cancel the ritual (set to take place on Sept 6), as well as the annual pilgrimage to the island in the wake of the past days’ deadly events in Van and the neighboring regions. It has issued a statement warning about the plan.
Since its re-opening in 2007, the renovated church annually hosted a liturgy ahead of the Feast of Cross.