Armenian Patriarchal Locum Tenens Bishop Sahak Mashalyan met the Governor of Van Mehmet Emin before liturgy in Akhtamar Church.
Bishop Mashalyan met with former Minister of Culture and Tourism Ertugrul Gunay
During his visit to Van, Armenian Patriarchal Locum Tenens (Değabah) Bishop Sahak Maşalyan had the opportunity to meet with the former Culture and Tourism ministers from Mr. Ertuğrul Günay who signed the decision to open Akhtamar Church to worship. They talked for a while about the book entitled “Dear Anatolia” which the former minister wrote “in the light of the responsibility to protect these lands without any discrimination and to transmit it to the future generations.”
Then, Bishop Mashalyan visited the city museum which was rebuilt next to the Van Castle after being damaged in 2 big earthquakes in 2011. The visit took place under the guidance of researcher Atilla Gök. Bishop Mashalyan commented: “It is a pleasure to preserve the traces of civilizations that have passed through these ancient lands with great care today”.
