VAN, TURKEY - SEPTEMBER 09: People from Turkey and around the world attend the mass in the Cathedral of the Holy Cross on Akdamar (Aghtamar) Island, in Lake Van in eastern Turkey on September 09, 2018. With an official permission by Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Turkey, Akdamar a medieval Armenian church located in Gevas district of Van is opened for worship once a year, and now hosts 6th special mass after a period of 3 years. ( Özkan Bilgin - Anadolu Agency )

VAN, TURKEY - SEPTEMBER 09: People from Turkey and around the world attend the mass in the Cathedral of the Holy Cross on Akdamar (Aghtamar) Island, in Lake Van in eastern Turkey on September 09, 2018. With an official permission by Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Turkey, Akdamar a medieval Armenian church located in Gevas district of Van is opened for worship once a year, and now hosts 6th special mass after a period of 3 years. ( Özkan Bilgin - Anadolu Agency )

VAN, TURKEY - SEPTEMBER 09: Archbishop Aram Atesyan (R), the General Vicar of the Armenian Patriarch in Turkey and Van Governor Murat Zorluoglu (L2) attend the mass in the Cathedral of the Holy Cross on Akdamar (Aghtamar) Island, in Lake Van in eastern Turkey on September 09, 2018. With an official permission by Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Turkey, Akdamar a medieval Armenian church located in Gevas district of Van is opened for worship once a year, and now hosts 6th special mass after a period of 3 years. ( Özkan Bilgin - Anadolu Agency )

VAN, TURKEY - SEPTEMBER 09: Archbishop Aram Atesyan, the General Vicar of the Armenian Patriarch in Turkey attends the mass in the Cathedral of the Holy Cross on Akdamar (Aghtamar) Island, in Lake Van in eastern Turkey on September 09, 2018. With an official permission by Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Turkey, Akdamar a medieval Armenian church located in Gevas district of Van is opened for worship once a year, and now hosts 6th special mass after a period of 3 years. ( Özkan Bilgin - Anadolu Agency )

VAN, TURKEY - SEPTEMBER 09: People from Turkey and around the world attend the mass in the Cathedral of the Holy Cross on Akdamar (Aghtamar) Island, in Lake Van in eastern Turkey on September 09, 2018. With an official permission by Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Turkey, Akdamar a medieval Armenian church located in Gevas district of Van is opened for worship once a year, and now hosts 6th special mass after a period of 3 years. ( Özkan Bilgin - Anadolu Agency )

VAN, TURKEY - SEPTEMBER 09: People from Turkey and around the world attend the mass in the Cathedral of the Holy Cross on Akdamar (Aghtamar) Island, in Lake Van in eastern Turkey on September 09, 2018. With an official permission by Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Turkey, Akdamar a medieval Armenian church located in Gevas district of Van is opened for worship once a year, and now hosts 6th special mass after a period of 3 years. ( Özkan Bilgin - Anadolu Agency )

VAN, TURKEY - SEPTEMBER 09: People from Turkey and around the world attend the mass in the Cathedral of the Holy Cross on Akdamar (Aghtamar) Island, in Lake Van in eastern Turkey on September 09, 2018. With an official permission by Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Turkey, Akdamar a medieval Armenian church located in Gevas district of Van is opened for worship once a year, and now hosts 6th special mass after a period of 3 years. ( Özkan Bilgin - Anadolu Agency )

VAN, TURKEY - SEPTEMBER 09: People from Turkey and around the world attend the mass in the Cathedral of the Holy Cross on Akdamar (Aghtamar) Island, in Lake Van in eastern Turkey on September 09, 2018. With an official permission by Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Turkey, Akdamar a medieval Armenian church located in Gevas district of Van is opened for worship once a year, and now hosts 6th special mass after a period of 3 years. ( Özkan Bilgin - Anadolu Agency )

VAN, TURKEY - SEPTEMBER 09: People from Turkey and around the world attend the mass in the Cathedral of the Holy Cross on Akdamar (Aghtamar) Island, in Lake Van in eastern Turkey on September 09, 2018. With an official permission by Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Turkey, Akdamar a medieval Armenian church located in Gevas district of Van is opened for worship once a year, and now hosts 6th special mass after a period of 3 years. ( Özkan Bilgin - Anadolu Agency )

VAN, TURKEY - SEPTEMBER 09: People from Turkey and around the world attend the mass in the Cathedral of the Holy Cross on Akdamar (Aghtamar) Island, in Lake Van in eastern Turkey on September 09, 2018. With an official permission by Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Turkey, Akdamar a medieval Armenian church located in Gevas district of Van is opened for worship once a year, and now hosts 6th special mass after a period of 3 years. ( Özkan Bilgin - Anadolu Agency )

VAN, TURKEY - SEPTEMBER 09: An aerial view of the Cathedral of the Holy Cross on Akdamar (Aghtamar) Island as people from Turkey and around the world arriving with boats from Akdamar shore to attend the mass in the Church, in Lake Van in eastern Turkey on September 09, 2018. With an official permission by Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Turkey, Akdamar a medieval Armenian church located in Gevas district of Van is opened for worship once a year, and now hosts 6th special mass after a period of 3 years. ( Özkan Bilgin - Anadolu Agency )

VAN, TURKEY - SEPTEMBER 09: An aerial view of the Cathedral of the Holy Cross on Akdamar (Aghtamar) Island as people from Turkey and around the world arriving with boats from Akdamar shore to attend the mass in the Church, in Lake Van in eastern Turkey on September 09, 2018. With an official permission by Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Turkey, Akdamar a medieval Armenian church located in Gevas district of Van is opened for worship once a year, and now hosts 6th special mass after a period of 3 years. ( Özkan Bilgin - Anadolu Agency )

VAN, TURKEY - SEPTEMBER 09: People from Turkey and around the world arrive with boats from Akdamar shore to attend the mass in the Cathedral of the Holy Cross on Akdamar (Aghtamar) Island, in Lake Van in eastern Turkey on September 09, 2018. With an official permission by Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Turkey, Akdamar a medieval Armenian church located in Gevas district of Van is opened for worship once a year, and now hosts 6th special mass after a period of 3 years. ( Özkan Bilgin - Anadolu Agency )

VAN, TURKEY - SEPTEMBER 09: People from Turkey and around the world light candles as they arrive to attend the mass in the Cathedral of the Holy Cross on Akdamar (Aghtamar) Island, in Lake Van in eastern Turkey on September 09, 2018. With an official permission by Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Turkey, Akdamar a medieval Armenian church located in Gevas district of Van is opened for worship once a year, and now hosts 6th special mass after a period of 3 years. ( Özkan Bilgin - Anadolu Agency )

VAN, TURKEY - SEPTEMBER 09: People from Turkey and around the world attend the mass in the Cathedral of the Holy Cross on Akdamar (Aghtamar) Island, in Lake Van in eastern Turkey on September 09, 2018. With an official permission by Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Turkey, Akdamar a medieval Armenian church located in Gevas district of Van is opened for worship once a year, and now hosts 6th special mass after a period of 3 years. ( Özkan Bilgin - Anadolu Agency )

VAN, TURKEY - SEPTEMBER 09: People from Turkey and around the world arrive with boats from Akdamar shore to attend the mass in the Cathedral of the Holy Cross on Akdamar (Aghtamar) Island, in Lake Van in eastern Turkey on September 09, 2018. With an official permission by Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Turkey, Akdamar a medieval Armenian church located in Gevas district of Van is opened for worship once a year, and now hosts 6th special mass after a period of 3 years. ( Özkan Bilgin - Anadolu Agency )

VAN, TURKEY - SEPTEMBER 09: People from Turkey and around the world attend the mass in the Cathedral of the Holy Cross on Akdamar (Aghtamar) Island, in Lake Van in eastern Turkey on September 09, 2018. With an official permission by Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Turkey, Akdamar a medieval Armenian church located in Gevas district of Van is opened for worship once a year, and now hosts 6th special mass after a period of 3 years. ( Özkan Bilgin - Anadolu Agency )

VAN, TURKEY - SEPTEMBER 09: People from Turkey and around the world arrive with boats from Akdamar shore to attend the mass in the Cathedral of the Holy Cross on Akdamar (Aghtamar) Island, in Lake Van in eastern Turkey on September 09, 2018. With an official permission by Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Turkey, Akdamar a medieval Armenian church located in Gevas district of Van is opened for worship once a year, and now hosts 6th special mass after a period of 3 years. ( Özkan Bilgin - Anadolu Agency )

VAN, TURKEY - SEPTEMBER 09: People from Turkey and around the world attend the mass in the Cathedral of the Holy Cross on Akdamar (Aghtamar) Island, in Lake Van in eastern Turkey on September 09, 2018. With an official permission by Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Turkey, Akdamar a medieval Armenian church located in Gevas district of Van is opened for worship once a year, and now hosts 6th special mass after a period of 3 years. ( Özkan Bilgin - Anadolu Agency )

VAN, TURKEY - SEPTEMBER 09: People from Turkey and around the world attend the mass in the Cathedral of the Holy Cross on Akdamar (Aghtamar) Island, in Lake Van in eastern Turkey on September 09, 2018. With an official permission by Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Turkey, Akdamar a medieval Armenian church located in Gevas district of Van is opened for worship once a year, and now hosts 6th special mass after a period of 3 years. ( Özkan Bilgin - Anadolu Agency )

VAN, TURKEY - SEPTEMBER 09: People from Turkey and around the world attend the mass in the Cathedral of the Holy Cross on Akdamar (Aghtamar) Island, in Lake Van in eastern Turkey on September 09, 2018. With an official permission by Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Turkey, Akdamar a medieval Armenian church located in Gevas district of Van is opened for worship once a year, and now hosts 6th special mass after a period of 3 years. ( Özkan Bilgin - Anadolu Agency )

VAN, TURKEY - SEPTEMBER 09: People from Turkey and around the world attend the mass in the Cathedral of the Holy Cross on Akdamar (Aghtamar) Island, in Lake Van in eastern Turkey on September 09, 2018. With an official permission by Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Turkey, Akdamar a medieval Armenian church located in Gevas district of Van is opened for worship once a year, and now hosts 6th special mass after a period of 3 years. ( Özkan Bilgin - Anadolu Agency )

VAN, TURKEY - SEPTEMBER 09: An aerial view of the Cathedral of the Holy Cross on Akdamar (Aghtamar) Island as people from Turkey and around the world arriving with boats from Akdamar shore to attend the mass in the Church, in Lake Van in eastern Turkey on September 09, 2018. With an official permission by Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Turkey, Akdamar a medieval Armenian church located in Gevas district of Van is opened for worship once a year, and now hosts 6th special mass after a period of 3 years. ( Özkan Bilgin - Anadolu Agency )

VAN, TURKEY - SEPTEMBER 09: An aerial view of the Cathedral of the Holy Cross on Akdamar (Aghtamar) Island as people from Turkey and around the world arriving with boats from Akdamar shore to attend the mass in the Church, in Lake Van in eastern Turkey on September 09, 2018. With an official permission by Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Turkey, Akdamar a medieval Armenian church located in Gevas district of Van is opened for worship once a year, and now hosts 6th special mass after a period of 3 years. ( Özkan Bilgin - Anadolu Agency )

VAN, TURKEY - SEPTEMBER 09: People from Turkey and around the world arrive with boats from Akdamar shore to attend the mass in the Cathedral of the Holy Cross on Akdamar (Aghtamar) Island, in Lake Van in eastern Turkey on September 09, 2018. With an official permission by Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Turkey, Akdamar a medieval Armenian church located in Gevas district of Van is opened for worship once a year, and now hosts 6th special mass after a period of 3 years. ( Özkan Bilgin - Anadolu Agency )

VAN, TURKEY - SEPTEMBER 09: People from Turkey and around the world light candles as they arrive to attend the mass in the Cathedral of the Holy Cross on Akdamar (Aghtamar) Island, in Lake Van in eastern Turkey on September 09, 2018. With an official permission by Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Turkey, Akdamar a medieval Armenian church located in Gevas district of Van is opened for worship once a year, and now hosts 6th special mass after a period of 3 years. ( Özkan Bilgin - Anadolu Agency )

VAN, TURKEY - SEPTEMBER 09: People from Turkey and around the world arrive with boats from Akdamar shore to attend the mass in the Cathedral of the Holy Cross on Akdamar (Aghtamar) Island, in Lake Van in eastern Turkey on September 09, 2018. With an official permission by Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Turkey, Akdamar a medieval Armenian church located in Gevas district of Van is opened for worship once a year, and now hosts 6th special mass after a period of 3 years. ( Özkan Bilgin - Anadolu Agency )

VAN, TURKEY - SEPTEMBER 09: People from Turkey and around the world arrive with boats from Akdamar shore to attend the mass in the Cathedral of the Holy Cross on Akdamar (Aghtamar) Island, in Lake Van in eastern Turkey on September 09, 2018. With an official permission by Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Turkey, Akdamar a medieval Armenian church located in Gevas district of Van is opened for worship once a year, and now hosts 6th special mass after a period of 3 years. ( Özkan Bilgin - Anadolu Agency )