Will Armenian tourists
attend Surb Khach
liturgy?
September 13, 2010 17:26
By Heghine Manukyan
The Turkish authorities’ refusal to install a cross on the dome of Surb Khach (Holy Cross) church on Akhtamar Island during the liturgy scheduled for September 19 proved to be a cold shower for Armenian believers. Many of them had decided to take a chance to attend the historic event, but were disappointed. Many Armenian public figures called for boycotting the “Turkish authorities’ show” and preventing “the making of our spiritual identity a laughing stock.” Armenian lobbyist organizations are active as well, trying to dissuade Armenians from attending the “show.”
NEWS.am undertook an enquiry into the matter. After calling a number of travel agencies providing travel package tours of western Armenia, we found out that, for some reasons, some of them stopped organizing tours of Van and other cities of western Armenia. One of the reasons is the situation surrounding Surb Khach cross. The director of one of the travel agencies told NEWS.am that he “cancelled the tours on principle. Patriotic, national and spiritual motives are more important for me than business profit. We must give Turks an adequate response by ignoring their events even if they have to do with our cultural heritage.” It should be noted that some Armenian travel agencies stopped providing tours of Turkey before the holiday season.
On the other hand, other travel agencies go on organizing tours of Van. However, they are afraid they cannot gather as many holiday makers as they need for tours. Some said they had organized tours before the liturgy. Later, however, they canceled the tours without any explanations.
Some travel agencies organize 4-5-day tours for those wishing to attend the liturgy at any cost. The prices are U.S. $420 to $450. The Ararat-Tour agency offers a 4-day tour of western Armenia. The package includes visits to several towns. The last day the tourist will visit Akhtamar Island and attend the liturgy. The agency reported that an 8-member group is planned to go to Turkey, but only three applications have so far been received. The agency employee could not say if the tours might be cancelled because of the insufficient number of prospective holiday-makers.
The Armane and Sidon Travel agencies too afford tourists the opportunity to attend the liturgy in Surb Khach church. The Armane agency received four applications, whereas Sidon Travel has sold 30 tickets. The agency plans to send about 60 tourists to Turkey for them to attend the liturgy. Will it realize its plans?
P.S. The number of Armenian tourists to attend the liturgy in Surb Khach church is difficult to forecast. Rough estimates based on the travel agencies’ information show 300 to 400 tourists will attend. We must admit it is a most decent figure for such a hyped-up event. But what if a cross had been installed on the dome of the church, and Armenia and Turkey had established diplomatic relations? It is clear that Turkey’s refusal to install a cross sharply diminished, or even minimized, the importance of the event. And if the arguments that the Turkish authorities did not install the cross in order to push the draft constitutional reforms through prove true, the cross is likely to be installed after the referendum, as September 19 draws near.
It is noteworthy that the three spiritual centers of the Armenian people, the Holy See of Echmiadzin, Great House of Cilicia and Jerusalem Patriarchate will not take part in the liturgy. This fact too diminishes the importance of the event.
News from Armenia - NEWS.am
By Heghine Manukyan
The Turkish authorities’ refusal to install a cross on the dome of Surb Khach (Holy Cross) church on Akhtamar Island during the liturgy scheduled for September 19 proved to be a cold shower for Armenian believers. Many of them had decided to take a chance to attend the historic event, but were disappointed. Many Armenian public figures called for boycotting the “Turkish authorities’ show” and preventing “the making of our spiritual identity a laughing stock.” Armenian lobbyist organizations are active as well, trying to dissuade Armenians from attending the “show.”
NEWS.am undertook an enquiry into the matter. After calling a number of travel agencies providing travel package tours of western Armenia, we found out that, for some reasons, some of them stopped organizing tours of Van and other cities of western Armenia. One of the reasons is the situation surrounding Surb Khach cross. The director of one of the travel agencies told NEWS.am that he “cancelled the tours on principle. Patriotic, national and spiritual motives are more important for me than business profit. We must give Turks an adequate response by ignoring their events even if they have to do with our cultural heritage.” It should be noted that some Armenian travel agencies stopped providing tours of Turkey before the holiday season.
On the other hand, other travel agencies go on organizing tours of Van. However, they are afraid they cannot gather as many holiday makers as they need for tours. Some said they had organized tours before the liturgy. Later, however, they canceled the tours without any explanations.
Some travel agencies organize 4-5-day tours for those wishing to attend the liturgy at any cost. The prices are U.S. $420 to $450. The Ararat-Tour agency offers a 4-day tour of western Armenia. The package includes visits to several towns. The last day the tourist will visit Akhtamar Island and attend the liturgy. The agency reported that an 8-member group is planned to go to Turkey, but only three applications have so far been received. The agency employee could not say if the tours might be cancelled because of the insufficient number of prospective holiday-makers.
The Armane and Sidon Travel agencies too afford tourists the opportunity to attend the liturgy in Surb Khach church. The Armane agency received four applications, whereas Sidon Travel has sold 30 tickets. The agency plans to send about 60 tourists to Turkey for them to attend the liturgy. Will it realize its plans?
P.S. The number of Armenian tourists to attend the liturgy in Surb Khach church is difficult to forecast. Rough estimates based on the travel agencies’ information show 300 to 400 tourists will attend. We must admit it is a most decent figure for such a hyped-up event. But what if a cross had been installed on the dome of the church, and Armenia and Turkey had established diplomatic relations? It is clear that Turkey’s refusal to install a cross sharply diminished, or even minimized, the importance of the event. And if the arguments that the Turkish authorities did not install the cross in order to push the draft constitutional reforms through prove true, the cross is likely to be installed after the referendum, as September 19 draws near.
It is noteworthy that the three spiritual centers of the Armenian people, the Holy See of Echmiadzin, Great House of Cilicia and Jerusalem Patriarchate will not take part in the liturgy. This fact too diminishes the importance of the event.
News from Armenia - NEWS.am
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