Ankara's latest promise: The Sourb Khach cross will be restored in 1.5 month

Aram Ateshyan, Vicar of the Patriarch of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Constantinople, will serve on Sunday a liturgy at Sourb Khach Church (Saint Cross) on Akhtamar Island, Lake Van, and eastern Turkey.

Armenians in Turkey, Armenia and across the world are now in great disappointment after Turkish authorities backtracked on their promises to have the cross on Sourb Khach restored before September 17, i.e. the day of the long-awaited and much-trumped one-off mass that is expected to bring thousands of believers to Akhtamar Island that day.

Now, just a day before the mass, Ankara is making a last effort to save its show from ultimate failure.

According to Turkish media, Van's Governor Myunil Karaloglu said the cross will be restored one and a half month after the mass as he visited the church to check whether or not it was ready for the mass.

Saying that the church is fully ready for the ceremony, Mr Karaloglu noted that Van's hotels are already full of guests. According to him, some 3,500 tourists are expected to attend the ritual.

Earlier some 6,000 visitors were reportedly expected.

A cross previously kept at the Van museum has been transported to Akhtamar Island, but it is unknown where in the church will the cross be placed until it is re-installed, if ever.