Church of the Holy Cross, Akdamar Island

Akdamar Island from a boat on Lake Van. Photo © Andrys Basten.
See many photos in our Akdamar Island Photo Gallery.

Church of the Holy Cross against a mountain backdrop. Public domain.

Photo © Andrys Basten.

Fascinating friezes ring the church. Photo © Dick Osseman.

Detail of border frieze and inscription. Photo © Dick Osseman.

Story of Jonah and the whale. Photo © Dick Osseman.

Jonah is eaten by the whale. Photo © Dick Osseman.

Christ Pantocrator. Photo © Dick Osseman.

The Akdamar Kilesi or the Church of the Holy Cross is a ruined Armenian cathedral in Eastern Anatolia. Standing 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 of the Holy Cross was designed by the Armenian architect Trdat Mendet (also known as Manuel), who built the cathedral in nearby Ani and helped repair Hagia Sophia's dome when it collapsed after an earthquake.

The Cathedral of the Holy Cross was the seat of an Armenian patriarch from 1116 to 1895, after which it was mostly abandoned and neglected.

The church 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 are currently very tense.

What 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.

Quick Facts

Names:	Akdamar Kilesi; Church of the Holy Cross; Armenian Cathedral of the Holy Cross, Akdamar
Type of site:	Cathedral
Faith:	Armenian Orthodox
Status:	Museum
Dates:	915-921
Location:	A few km from the southern shore of Lake Van, Eastern Anatolia, Turkey
Phone:	None
Hours:	All reasonable hours
Cost:	Free
Getting there:	Boat ride from Gevas
When to go:	The best time for beautiful photos (and memories) is in the spring, when the trees are in bloom.

Travel Resources

Church of the Holy Cross (Akdamar Kilisesi) - TripAdvisor traveler reviews
Lake Van Hotel Reviews - the real truth from fellow travelers
Akdamar - Around the World with Wes and Masami (includes details on transportation logistics)
Lake Van - Andy Carvin's travel journal

Article Sources

Akdamar Island, Lake Van, Turkey - SacredSites.com
Ankara restores Armenian church - BBC News, March 29, 2007
Akdamar Island - Wikipedia
Akdamar pictures - Dick Osseman

Location Map

Below is a location map and aerial view of the Armenian Church on Akdamar Island. Using the buttons on the left, zoom in for a closer look or zoom out to get your bearings. Click and drag the map to move around. For a larger view, see our Turkey Map or get our free Google Earth download.