The holy mass on the island of Akhtaman was completed, with no incidents reported, Turkish media informed.

However, a group of Armenians raised wooden crosses as a sign of protest against the absence of one on dome of the Holy Cross Church. In Christianity, a liturgy in an sanctified is considered a sin.

Archbishop Aram Ateshian served the liturgy, attended by the Istambul Armenian community.

Holy Sees of Cilicia and Echmiadizn, Jerusalem Patriarchate, as well as a number of diaspora organizations refused to attend the liturgy.