On September 19, the Holy Cross Church on Akhtamar hosted the first liturgy in 95 years.

On the eve of the liturgy day the island was filled with tourists representing the Armenian Diaspora worldwide. A price tag indicating a USD 2 museum entrance fee was set at the church stairs.

The tourists were allowed only a short tour to the cross propped against the church doors. Soon, the policemen guarding the territory forced the tourists to leave the church premises, citing “museum closure”.