Armenian Church of Holy Cross at Akhtamar Island won't be open for liturgies or topped with a cross, Turkish Minister of Culture and Tourism, Ertugrul Gunay stated.

"The church is a museum under the Ministry and will be operating as a museum only," Milliyet cited the Minister as saying.

In December 2009, Van mayor Munir Karaloglu announced that, after speaking with Turkey's Ministry of Culture, a decision was made to open the Armenian church on the island of Akhtamar. As he noted, the church, located in Lake Van in eastern Turkey, will begin officially opening its doors on September 12, 2010.