The Armenian Patriarchate of Istanbul is surprised that the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin has rejected an invitation to attend a historic service on Van’s Akhtamar Island on September 19, 2010.

“I still believe that they will participate,” Coadjutor Archbishop Aram Ateshyan said, adding that he had not yet received any official information from Holy Etchmiadzin.

“But if they retreat [from their earlier decision to attend], there is nothing I can do but respect their decision. In this service, I would like to mark our church’s unity,” Hurriyet quoted him as saying.

The statement published by the information service of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin reads: “The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin learned with regret and disappointment that the placing of the cross on top of the dome of the Church of the Holy Cross at Aghtamar is being postponed by the Turkish authorities without cause. The Mother See had been assured that the consecrated cross would be permanently placed on the dome of the church one week prior to the celebration of Divine Liturgy in the Church of the Holy Cross, scheduled for Sunday, September 19.

Taking into account the breach of the assurances provided regarding the placement of the cross, the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin – which was prepared to satisfy the request of the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople to send two representatives to participate in the Divine Liturgy – is suspending the participation of her representatives in the celebration of the liturgy at the Church of the Holy Cross at Aghtamar on September 19.”