according to maximilian hartmuth, an academician at sabanc? university, "the church was turned into a museum rather than re-opened as a place of worship following the restoration was, for example, claimed to be a wedge separating the monument from turkey's armenian community. the critics, writing for media such as radikal, milliyet, or turkish daily news, furthermore lamented that permission to re-mount the cross on top of the church was not given. moreover, they argued, the official name of the museum, the turkish akdamar (translating as ?white vein?) rather than the original armenian ahtamar ? the name of the island in lake van on which the church stands and surp haç (holy cross) for the church itself would suggest this to be a turkish monument. at the same time only sparing use was made of the word ?armenian? in official statements. with turkey's armenian community not granted the privilege to hold a service at least once a year - as had been requested - and a large turkish flag flying over the island, it was suggested by some critics that this project really announced the ?turkification? of this monument, the initiative being no more than a media stunt."[9]
