A liturgy and a protest in Tsitsernakaberd

There is a rally of thousands peoples organized against the Turkish government's campaign for the Holy Cross Cathedral of Aghtamar island in Van. The rally is organized in Armenian Genocide Memorial of 1915 in Tsitsernakaberd.

The participants of the demonstration express a complaint against the "show" initiated by the Turkish government, concentrating the attention of the international community on the fact that Turkey has initiated liturgy in the Armenian Church, not allowing the installation of the cross. According to the participants of the protest action the Turkish authorities are trying to please the European countries, showing as if they present a tolerant attitude towards the national ethnic minorities, but in fact they are trying to get political dividends.

Akhtamar Holy Cross Church, which was renovated in 2007 and now serves as a museum, today opens for religious ceremonies, by the initiation of the Van Governor and Constantinople Patriarchate of Armenian Apostolic Church. After a long process by the Turkish government's permission, there will be held an annual religious ceremony in that Armenian Church.

Previously the Turkish side claimed that a cross will be installed on church dome, but it broke its promise, stating that the installation of the cross “can damage the Church cross”.

Regarding the fact that the promise on cross installation was broken by the Turkish side, the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin which was to participate in the sacred liturgy with its two representatives has declined its participation on the liturgy which was to be held in the Church of the Holy Cross.