The 14th service, which began in 2010 with the permission of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, was held on Akdamar Island. Prayers were offered for the development of Türkiye-Armenia relations, the brotherhood of peoples and world peace at the service, which was attended by participants from Türkiye and abroad.
Patriarch of the Armenians of Türkiye Sahak Maşalyan said that the peoples living in these lands deserved peace and reiterated his wish for relations to improve. Maşalyan came to the island with his deputy Krikor Damadyan and Reverend Harutyun Damadyan, and spoke with visitors. The service was led by Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan, Spiritual Leader of the Armenian Church of America’s Eastern Diocese.
The Patriarch said they were pleased by the strong turnout from different parts of the world and thanked Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy and Governor Ozan Balcı.
Alex Akınoğlu, who came from Istanbul, emphasized the importance of the service in terms of brotherhood, peace and friendship. Cana Kucyan, who came from Florida for the first time, expressed her satisfaction, saying that her ancestors had lived in the region. Şuşan Sivaslıoğlu said the day was special and that the beauty of Van and its surroundings should be preserved.
Why it matters
The fact that the service has been held 14 times since 2010 shows that Akdamar Island functions not only as a tourist destination but also as a living place of faith that brings Armenians from different countries together. The prayers for improved Turkey-Armenia relations and peace between the two peoples show that, alongside the ceremony’s religious dimension, it also carries social and diplomatic significance. The arrival on the island of participants whose ancestors lived in the region makes clear that the gathering is also directly relevant to Armenians living abroad in terms of memory and belonging. Held with the ministry’s permission, the service highlights the public sector’s role in access to cultural heritage and the opportunity to worship, while also keeping the question of how Van and its surroundings will be preserved on the agenda.
Background
Turkey is not a new name in the FikirPilot archive: we have published 34 reports mentioning it in the past 90 days; the latest was dated September 5, 2026.