Karmravank (, meaning ''Red Monastery'') is an abandoned 10th century Armenian monastery in the
Vaspurakan province of historic
Armenia
Armenia, officially the Republic of Armenia, is a landlocked country in the Armenian Highlands of West Asia. It is a part of the Caucasus region and is bordered by Turkey to the west, Georgia (country), Georgia to the north and Azerbaijan to ...
(now in the
Van Province
Van Province (, , Armenian: Վանի մարզ) is a province and metropolitan municipality in the Eastern Anatolian region of Turkey, between Lake Van and the Iranian border. Its area is 20,921 km2, and its population is 1,128,749 (2022). ...
of
Turkey
Turkey, officially the Republic of Türkiye, is a country mainly located in Anatolia in West Asia, with a relatively small part called East Thrace in Southeast Europe. It borders the Black Sea to the north; Georgia (country), Georgia, Armen ...
). It was founded by
King Gagik I (908-943) of the
Artsruni dynasty
The House of Artsruni (; also Ardzruni or Artsrunid) was an ancient princely and, later, royal dynasty of Armenia.
Name
The name ''Artsruni'' contains the ending , which is widespread in old Armenian family names. The early Armenian historian ...
.
It is located 12 kilometers west-northwest of
Akhtamar Island.
Gallery
Image:Karmravank Armenian monastery (Lake Van) - setting.JPG, Karmravank in its natural setting
Image:Karmravank Armenian monastery (Lake Van) - closeup.JPG, View of the church from the south
Image:Karmravank Armenian monastery (Lake Van) - another view.JPG, View of the church from the south-west
Image:Karmravank Armenian monastery (Lake Van) - view2.JPG, View of church from the west
Image:Karmravank Armenian monastery (Lake Van) - dome closeup.JPG, Closeup of the damaged dome
Image:Karmravank Armenian monastery (Lake Van) - khachkar.JPG, An Armenian khachkar
A ''khachkar'' (also spelled as ''khatchkar'') or Armenian cross-stone (, , խաչ ''xačʿ'' "cross" + քար ''kʿar'' "stone") is a carved, memorial stele bearing a cross, and often with additional motifs such as rosette (design), rosettes ...
reused as a lintel
Image:Karmravank Armenian monastery (Lake Van) - closeup of stonework.JPG, Upper level doorway leading to the north-west gallery
Image:Karmravank Armenian monastery (Lake Van) - drum and support.JPG, Drum of the church and its supporting vaults
Image:Karmravank Armenian monastery (Lake Van) - interior of dome.JPG, View of dome from the inside
Image:Karmravank Armenian monastery (Lake Van) - apse.JPG, The apse of the church
Image:Karmravank Armenian monastery (Lake Van) - view of lake.JPG, View of Lake Van
Lake Van (; ; ) is the largest lake in Turkey. It lies in the Eastern Anatolia Region of Turkey in the provinces of Van Province, Van and Bitlis Province, Bitlis, in the Armenian highlands. It is a Salt lake, saline Soda lake, soda lake, receiv ...
and Mount Artos seen from the monastery
See also
*
Narekavank, a nearby 10th century Armenian monastery also founded by King Gagik
*
Akhtamar Island, a nearby island on Lake Van with the 10th century Armenian ''Church of the Holy Cross''
References
External links
Recent pictures
{{Armenian Churches
Destroyed Armenian monasteries in Turkey
Kingdom of Vaspurakan
10th-century churches
Christian monasteries in Turkey