Historic church on Akdamar Island readies for 14th mass
The 1,100-year-old Surp Hach Church on Lake Van in the country’s east will host its 14th annual divine liturgy on Sept. 6, drawing a large congregation of domestic and international worshippers.
Patriarch Sahak Maşalyan of the Armenian Patriarchate of Türkiye will lead the Sunday service on Akdamar Island. Local authorities, including the Van Governor’s Office and the provincial Culture and Tourism Directorate, are finalizing logistics and security preparations.
Boat captain Erkan Avcı at the Akdamar Pier in the Gevaş district said marine crews anticipate a major increase in attendance compared to previous years.
“We expect intense interest this year,” he said. “We experienced high density on mass days in past years, but we hope even more visitors will arrive this time.”
