Armenian Akdamar Church to host special mass on September 8

Akdamar Church in Turkey's eastern province of Van will host the 4th special mass on September 8. The annual mass will start at 11 a.m. Turkish local time and  will be conducted by Vicar of the Armenian Orthodox Church Aram Atesyan Preparations have been completed and scores of people are expected to attend the mass both from Turkey and abroad.   Worshipers will pray for peace in the Middle East and in the world during the mass and first baptism ceremony will be held in the ancient church. Akdamar Church is a 10th century Armenian church located on Akdamar Island in Lake Van. The church held its first mass in 95 years in 2010 after it was restored by  the Turkish government.