Holy See of Echmiadzin refuses to take part in Surb Khach church serviceSeptember 04, 2010 18:34
The Holy See of Echmiadzin has refused to take part in a religious service in the Surb Khach (Holy Cross) church on Akhtamar Island, Van, Turkey. The service is scheduled for September 19. The press service of the Holy See of Echmiadzin informed NEWS.am that the Holy See knew with regret that the installation of the cross on the dome of the church had been put off.
“The Holy See had been assured that a sanctified cross would be installed on the dome a week before the September 19 service,” the press service said.
Considering the refusal to install the cross, the Holy See refuses to send two of its representatives to take part in the service scheduled for September 19.
At the request of the Constantinople Patriarchate of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Bishop Markos Hovhannisyan and Archimandrite Komitas Hovhanyan were to take part in the September 19 service on behalf of the Holy See. In its turn, the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia stated in advance that it would not take part in the official opening ceremony of the Surb Khach church thereby stressing its protest against Turkey’s consistent denial policy and attempts to pose as a human rights defender before the international community.
Turkish authorities have made a disgraceful step by stating that that, for technical reasons, they cannot install the cross on the dome of the Surb Khach church on Akhtamar Island before September 19. They state the cross would be installed after the religious service.
News from Armenia - NEWS.am
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