Daily Sabah logo

Politics
Diplomacy Legislation War On Terror EU Affairs Elections News Analysis
TÜRKİYE
Istanbul Education Investigations Minorities Expat Corner Diaspora
World
Mid-East Europe Americas Asia Pacific Africa Syrian Crisis Islamophobia
Business
Automotive Economy Energy Finance Tourism Tech Defense Transportation News Analysis
Lifestyle
Health Environment Travel Food Fashion Science Religion History Feature Expat Corner
Arts
Cinema Music Events Portrait Reviews Performing Arts
Sports
Football Basketball Motorsports Tennis
Opinion
Columns Op-Ed Reader's Corner Editorial
PHOTO GALLERY
JOBS ABOUT US RSS PRIVACY CONTACT US
© Turkuvaz Haberleşme ve Yayıncılık 2023

Daily Sabah logo

عربي
  • Politics
    • Diplomacy
    • Legislation
    • War On Terror
    • EU Affairs
    • Elections
    • News Analysis
  • TÜRKİYE
    • Istanbul
    • Education
    • Investigations
    • Minorities
    • Expat Corner
    • Diaspora
  • World
    • Mid-East
    • Europe
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Africa
    • Syrian Crisis
    • Islamophobia
  • Business
    • Automotive
    • Economy
    • Energy
    • Finance
    • Tourism
    • Tech
    • Defense
    • Transportation
    • News Analysis
  • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Environment
    • Travel
    • Food
    • Fashion
    • Science
    • Religion
    • History
    • Feature
    • Expat Corner
  • Arts
    • Cinema
    • Music
    • Events
    • Portrait
    • Reviews
    • Performing Arts
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Motorsports
    • Tennis
  • Gallery
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Op-Ed
    • Reader's Corner
    • Editorial
  • TV
  • Turkey
  • Istanbul
  • Education
  • Investigations
  • Minorities
  • Expat Corner
  • Diaspora

COVID-19 outbreak scales back Turkey's Akdamar Island church service

by DAILY SABAH

ISTANBUL Sep 03, 2020 - 2:40 pm GMT+3
A view of Akdamar Church, in Van, eastern Turkey, Sept. 3, 2020. (AA Photo)
A view of Akdamar Church, in Van, eastern Turkey, Sept. 3, 2020. (AA Photo)
by DAILY SABAH Sep 03, 2020 2:40 pm
RECOMMENDED
No Image

Want to help earthquake victims in Türkiye? Here's how 

earthquake-in-türkiye

An annual religious service that brings together the faithful from around the world at a cathedral on Akdamar Island in eastern Turkey has fallen victim to the COVID-19 outbreak. Only 25 people will be able to attend this year’s mass at the church located on the island in Lake Van.

The mass scheduled for Sunday is the eighth since the church was restored and reopened for worship in 2010 after a 95-year hiatus. Every year, hundreds of visitors flock to Akdamar Island in the eastern province of Van for the service held in the first week of September. Yet, the pandemic forced authorities to limit attendance and boost preventative measures. Visitors will have their temperatures measured before they board boats to the island and will be required to wear masks and adhere to social distancing.

The Armenian church, also known as the Cathedral of the Holy Cross, Aghtamar and Surp Haç, was built between 915 and 921 by architect Bishop Manuel under the sponsorship of Gagik I Artsruni of the Kingdom of Vaspurakan. After the 1915 incidents during World War I when the Armenian community in the area was relocated, the church was abandoned. The building's restoration began in 2005 and opened as a museum two years later. The church is open to visitors as a museum while the Armenian Orthodox community is allowed to hold an annual religious service.

Van Governor Mehmet Emin Bilmez told Anadolu Agency (AA) said that the religious service has drawn a large number of visitors in the past years, but only 25 people from Istanbul, where the majority of Turkey’s Armenian population lives, will be able to attend the event inside the church. “It will be broadcast live for the faithful, and no one else will be allowed on the island. We took measures to ensure social distancing and hygiene,” Bilmez said on Thursday.

RECOMMENDED
No Image

Want to help earthquake victims in Türkiye? Here's how 

earthquake-in-türkiye
  • shortlink copied
  • Last Update: Sep 03, 2020 3:42 pm
    RELATED TOPICS
    fight-against-terrorism DEUTSCHE-BANK US-LIBYA-RELATIONS
    KEYWORDS
    akdamar church van armenian covid-19 outbreak turkey
    The Daily Sabah Newsletter
    Keep up to date with what’s happening in Turkey, it’s region and the world.
    You can unsubscribe at any time. By signing up you are agreeing to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
    Rescue teams gather in Istanbul Airport to head to zones hit by a 7.7 magnitude earthquake in southeastern Türkiye. (DHA Photo)

    Condolences messages pour for victims of quake in SE Türkiye

    earthquake
    An influx of volunteers, ready to engage in the assistance and rescue efforts following earthquakes in southeastern Türkiye, is seen at Istanbul Airport, Türkiye, Jan. 7, 2023. (IHA Photo)

    Turkish Airlines helps in evacuation, transporting volunteers after quake

    EARTHQUAKE

    Earthquakes in Türkiye moved Anatolia up to 10 meters: Seismologist

    türkiye

    Death toll from deadly quakes in Türkiye surpasses 9,000

    türkiye
    No Image
    Experts explain what makes Van cats special
    PHOTOGALLERY
    • POLITICS
    • Diplomacy
    • Legislation
    • War On Terror
    • EU Affairs
    • News Analysis
    • TÜRKİYE
    • Istanbul
    • Education
    • Investigations
    • Minorities
    • Diaspora
    • World
    • Mid-East
    • Europe
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Africa
    • Syrian Crisis
    • İslamophobia
    • Business
    • Automotive
    • Economy
    • Energy
    • Finance
    • Tourism
    • Tech
    • Defense
    • Transportation
    • News Analysis
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Environment
    • Travel
    • Food
    • Fashion
    • Science
    • Religion
    • History
    • Feature
    • Expat Corner
    • Arts
    • Cinema
    • Music
    • Events
    • Portrait
    • Performing Arts
    • Reviews
    • Sports
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Motorsports
    • Tennis
    • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Op-Ed
    • Reader's Corner
    • Editorial
    • Photo gallery
    • Jobs
    • privacy
    • about us
    • contact us
    • RSS
    © Turkuvaz Haberleşme ve Yayıncılık 2021