Pilgrimage to Akhtamar Cancelled Due to Security Concerns

ISTANBUL (Agos) — The ceremony that was planned to be conducted on September 6 in The Church of the Holy Cross on Akhtamar Island is cancelled. Patriarchal Church in Kumkapi declared that the ceremony is cancelled and the security concerns in and around Van was shown as reason for this. This ceremony has been conducted since 2011 and many people from Armenia and Armenian Diaspora were expected to attend the ceremony on the occasion of 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

The statement made by Patriarchal Church is as the following: “The faith tourism that was scheduled on September 6 is cancelled. Armenian Patriarchate pushed the annual faith tourism back in order not to cause a security problem in and around Van, by considering the recent terrorist attacks and martyr funerals.”