Acting Patriarch in Istanbul Aram Ateshian
ISTANBUL (Public Radio of Armenia) — Acting Armenian Patriarch of Istanbul Aram Ateshian has restrained the importance of the permission to celebrate Masses more frequently in the Armenian Church of the Holy Cross on Akhtamar Island in Lake Van.
He said they are only able to hold a religious service only once a year due to the decreased number of participants and the situation in the region. He reminded that the September Mass was cancelled due to the armed clashes in the region.
“People will hardly be able to come here more than once a year. The number of participants went down from 1,000 to 500 in the past years. This decision brings no change for us. However, if some group arrives from abroad and asks for a Mass, we’ll be able to use this right,â€
