The first ceremony will be held in Akdamar Church in Akdamar Island in Gevaş district of Van after 3 years. Armenians in Turkey in the ritual will be held on September 9 by the Armenian Patriarchate is expected to arrive in many parts of the world. While Hagia Sophia is condemned as a "museum", the opening of the Akdamar Church, which also serves as a "museum", constitutes question marks in minds.
Armenian Patriarchate of Turkey, Akdamar Church in Van's Akdamar Island hawthorn in the district (Monument Museum) will do it again after 3 year hiatus ritual. At the moment it is open to visitors with the name of the Monument Museum. The ceremony is held once a year in 2010, but in 2015 it was interrupted for security reasons. Sunday, September 9 wishing to participate in the ritual in many parts of the world will be held in Turkey and Armenians, travel agencies and began making reservations at hotels.
The church, restored by the government in 2010 and opened for more than 95 years, is of great importance to the Orthodox. Last year, the rites of Armenians living in Turkey as well as the Netherlands, Austria, Canada, Switzerland, Germany, France, the United States, had shown interest in a large number of Armenians from Iran and Armenia. Similarly, in the Monastery of Sümela in Trabzon, the ceremony was allowed to take place 88 years later and the first ceremony was held in 2010.
Provincial Director of Culture and Tourism Muzaffer Aktuğ, "Incoming tourists worship the church is made of rituals. For this reason, the number of visitors is constantly increasing, "he said.
The Van Trade and Industry Chamber Board Member Murat White Istanbul, Armenia and stated that the world came to Van to ritual in many parts of the Armenians, "Van could become one of Turkey's most important faith tourism centers. Armenians have such an expectation" express He was used.