Turkish authorities permitted to fix a cross on the dome of Holy Cross Armenian Church in Akhtamar island.

“The decision was made by the organization for nature and cultural monuments of Van,” Turkey’s Minister of Culture and Tourism Erturgul Gunay said. “The information was not made public yet but the cross will be fixed before September 19, 2010.

Patriarchal Locum Tenens of the Constantinople Patriarchate of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Archbishop Aram Ateshyan said the Patriarchate has not been informed of the decision but “inauguration of the cross will afford pleasure for Turkish Armenians.”

Permission to fix a cross on a Christian church was issued for the first time in the history of the Turkish Republic.