The Canadian Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church (AAC) said that it is impossible to imagine an Armenian church without cross, like a mosque without crescent.

“The liturgy at Akhtamar Island is a political trump card in the hands of Turkey, which intends to join the EU and normalize its relations with Armenia without the Armenian Genocide recognition,” the Canadian Diocese of the AAC told PanARMENIAN.Net in its statement over the upcoming liturgy in Holy Cross church on Akhtamar Island.

The statement also reads that the Armenian Apostolic Church is based on the Christian religion, but not on political and diplomatic fraud.

The first liturgy in 95 years is scheduled to be offered in Holy Cross Church on Akhtamar Island on September 19. However, the Turkish authorities have not allowed setting a cross on the church dome. The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia and Jerusalem Patriarchate of the Armenian Apostolic Church have rejected their participation in the liturgy. Besides, several Armenian tour operators have also refrained from traveling to Van.