Aghtamar Holy Cross Church may be included in UNESCO list

Aghtamar Holy Cross Church may be included in UNESCO list –

ARMENPRESS. Culture and Tourism Directorate of Van appealed to the General Museum Directorate of Turkey to forward a demand for including the Holy Cross Church on the island of Aghtamar in UNESCO’s World Heritage List. As reports “Armenpress”, this was informed by “Agos” weekly.

It is noted that the church corresponds to six out of ten requirement-characteristics for appearing in UNESCO’s World Heritage List.

The Church of the Holy Cross was built on Aghtamar Island in Lake Van between the years 915 and 921 by King Gagik Artzruni. The church, abandoned after the Armenian Genocide, after being renovated by the Ministry of Tourism of Turkey on March 29, 2007, was turned into a museum. It is allowed to serve liturgy in the church only once a year – on the day of the celebration of the Holy Cross.