Akdamar
Kilesi
(Akdamar
Church) or
Church of
the Holy
Cross)
is a ruined
Armenian
cathedral in
Eastern
Anatolia.
Situated on
a small
island in
the
beautiful
mountain
setting of
Lake Van,
the Akdamar
church dates
from the
10th century
and is famed
for the
fascinating
reliefs
carved on
the
exterior.
Myth and
Mystery
According to
local
legend, the island of
Akdamar gets
its name
from a
tragic love
story.
A man fell
in love with
a woman
named Tamar,
who lived on
the island.
He visited
her every
night until,
one tragic
night, he
was overcome
by the waves
in a storm.
As he sunk
into the
water he
cried out,
"Ach,
Tamar!"
Local
folklore
also has it
that Lake
Van is
enchanted
and
frequented
by angels.
History
The
Church of
the Holy
Cross
was once an
important
Armenian
cathedral.
The seat of
the Armenian
Orthodox
patriarch,
the
cathedral
was founded
by King
Gagik
between 915
and 921 as
part of a
royal
complex that
included a
palace,
monastery,
streets,
gardens and
terraced
parks. The
church is
all that
remains
today.
The church
was designed
by the
Armenian
architect
Trdat Mendet
(also known
as
Manuel),
who also
built the
cathedral in
nearby Ani
and helped
repair
Hagia Sophia's
dome when it
collapsed
after an
earthquake.
The Church
of the Holy
Cross was
the seat of
an Armenian
patriarch
from 1116 to
1895, after
which it was
abandoned
due to
conflict
between
Armenia and
the
Ottoman
Empire.
The building
fell into
disrepair
and was
neglected
throughout
the 20th
century.
The
cathedral
was restored
by the
Turkish
government
beginning in
May 2005.
The
restoration
cost $1.5
million and
took 18
months to
complete. At
a ceremony
on March 29,
2007, it was
officially
opened as a
museum. The
restoration
project was
seen as a
diplomatic
step by
Turkey to
improve
relations
with
Armenia,
which remain
very tense.
To See
On a
cruciform
plan and
topped with
a conical
roof, the
Akdamar
church is
just 49 x 39
feet (15 x
12 m) in
size. It is
made of red
tufa
stone
brought to
the island
from distant
quarries.
Inside the
church are
faded but
still-impressive
frescoes.
The justly
famous
exterior
features
bas-relief
carvings and
friezes
of biblical
scenes,
including
Adam and
Eve, Jonah
and the
whale, David
and Goliath,
Abraham and
Isaac, St.
George
slaying a
dragon,
Christ
Pantocrator,
and Madonna
and Child.
On the back
is an image
of King
Gagik
presenting
his church
to Christ (a
theme that
can also be
seen in the
Hagia Sophia
and most
other great
religious
buildings).
A richly
carved
border runs
around the
entire
church,
populated
with animals
and figures
that may
represent
the Months
of the Year.
Lake Van
is the
largest lake
in
Turkey
and has a
very high
salt level,
making it
pleasant for
swimming. It
incorporates
a number of
small
islands with
interesting
ruins to
explore.
