Van Opens Its Doors to Armenian Pilgrims and Tourists

The inhabitants of Van, Easter Turkey, have started to enthusiastically prepare for a liturgy service to be offered in Surb Khach (Saint Cross) Church on Akhtamar Island on September 19.

According to the Turkish news agency Dogan, Van Times, a local newspaper, has initiated a large campaign. Titled We Are Opening Our Doors for Armenians Arriving in Van it calls on the locals to give shelter to all Armenians who will come to attend the liturgy service in Surb Khach that day.

The proprietor of the Van Times Aziz Aykach says their initiative is backed both by the Van District Administration and local NGOs.
“Some 5,000 people are expected to arrive to participate in the liturgy service. But we suppose there will be several times more people. That is why we have launched this campaign,” Aykach was quoted as saying.

“Our phones keep ringing after we launched this campaign. Families are calling us and leaving their addresses and phone numbers, mentioning to how many people they can host hopefully, we will be able to decently welcome our guests,” said Aykach.

Van Times is currently being published in four languages – Turkish, Kurdish, Persian and English, but it will be published also in Armenian on the occasion of the liturgy service on September 19.