Mass was served in Holy Cross Church of Aghtamar

Mass was celebrated today in the Armenian Holy Cross Church of Aghtamar Island of Lake Vana. Thousands of tourists from Turkey and abroad came to Aghtamar Island to participate in the ceremony.

Bishop Sahak Mashalyan, leader of the Armenian Diocese of Istanbul, presided over the liturgy and delivered a sermon.

After a 95-year break in the Church of the Holy Cross of Aghtamar, the first liturgy was held on September 19, 2010, with the special permission of the Ministry of Tourism and Culture of Turkey. Mass is usually celebrated in the Church of the Holy Cross on the Sunday preceding the Feast of the Holy Cross.