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Turkey - The Thousand and one Churches

71 images Created 14 Sep 2020

April 24, 2021, Joe Biden has become the first US president to issue a statement formally describing the 1915 massacre of Armenians as a genocide. July 2020, Turkish president Erdoğan ordered the reclassification of Hagia Sophia as a mosque, revoking the monument’s status as museum from 1934. Syriac monks, the last Christian presence in Eastern Anatolia, often are streaked between Kurds and Turks and constantly undermined by endless legal disputes with Turkish government.
The last Christian heritage of Anatolia, beautiful Byzantine and Middle Age monuments monuments, often is in danger to follow the same fate, or to be soon overwhelmed by irreparable collapses for maintenance never realized or disappear even in the collective memory. Not in Cappadocia, a booming tourist reality, but rather in remote locations of Eastern Anatolia.
It is the hidden world, unknown to the rest of the world, of The Thousand and One Churches, the title of a book published in 1909 by the archeologist William Ramsey and leading traveller and archeologist Gertrude Bell who explored, mapped, and became so influential to British imperial policy-making in Middle East, like Lawrence of Arabia, to be nicknamed Gertrude of Arabia, or The Queen of the Desert in a movie of Werner Herzog. The most scenic archeological site is the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ani, the “City of 40 gates and 1001 churches” along the Silk Road that challenged Cairo and Constantinople. Ani managed to survive to the Tatars and many years of neglect by Turkish authorities, which in 1921 officially decided to “sweep its monuments from the face of the Earth,” but happily, they fail. Today is a ghost town in a sea of grass with giant stone skeletons of churches lost in the space of silences symbolically enclosed by the imposing walls of a Bastiani fortress crowned with carved crosses. Nestled in the mountains north of Erzurum, the Georgian cathedral of Oskvank is an open-air stone shell that anticipates the Gothic architecture by centuries, in the heart of a territory threatened by a large projected dam. On the Van lake's shores, the Holy Cross basilica is an absolute masterpiece of Armenian architecture on the small islet of Akdamar. In southeastern Anatolia, not far from the border with Syria, few Syriac church monasteries like Shafran near Mardin and Mar Gabriel on the Plateau of Tur Abdin (the “Mountain of the Servants of God”) are still alive after many centuries of vicissitudes.

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  • Northeastern Anatolia. Oskvank (Oshki), Georgian church dedicated to St John the Baptists is the grandest of the Georgian cathedrals in this region. Built in 958 -61 by Duke Bagrat and David Curapalates. A impressive  big building hidden in the mountains, village still in a relaively good shape.
    em2713447.jpg
  • Northeastern Anatolia. Ani, a ruined and uninhabited medieval city situated near the border with Armenia. The city was protected by a double line of walls,  studded by numerous large semicircular towers. Contemporary chroniclers wrote that King Smbat (977-989) built these walls.  Armenian inscriptions from the 12th and 13th century show that private individuals paid for some of these newer towers. Ani was once the capital of a medieval Armenian kingdom  that covered much of present day Armenia and eastern Turkey. Called the "City of 1001 Churches", it stood on various trade routes and its many religious buildings, palaces, and fortifications were amongst the most technically and artistically advanced structures in the world.<br />
At its height, with a population of more than 100,000 people, was a rival of Constantinople. Ani has been abandoned and largely forgotten for centuries and only in the 19th century European travelers rediscovered Ani for the outside world.
    em2712873.jpg
  • Northeastern Anatolia. Ani, a ruined and uninhabited medieval city situated near the border with Armenia. The church of the Redeemer (Surb Prkich) was completed after the year 1035 to house a fragment of the True Cross. The church was largely intact until 1955, when the entire eastern half collapsed during a storm. Ani was once the capital of a medieval Armenian kingdom  that covered much of present day Armenia and eastern Turkey. Called the "City of 1001 Churches", it stood on various trade routes and its many religious buildings, palaces, and fortifications were amongst the most technically and artistically advanced structures in the world.<br />
At its height, with a population of more than 100,000 people, was a rival of Constantinople. Ani has been abandoned and largely forgotten for centuries and only in the 19th century European travelers rediscovered Ani for the outside world.
    em2712802.jpg
  • Northeastern Anatolia. Van Lake. Landscape near Altinsaç village.
    em2713203.jpg
  • Northeastern Anatolia. Kars. A big concrete hand on a hill seems say goodbay to the near mountains of Armenian border. The hand was part of a monument of friendness with near Armenia but probably will never be finish, also because in the same place archeologists discovered a Urartian settlement.
    em2713047.jpg
  • Northeastern Anatolia. Ani, a ruined and uninhabited medieval city situated near the border with Armenia. The church of St Gregory of the Abughamrents probably dates from the late tenth century and was built as a private chapel for the Pahlavuni family. Ani was once the capital of a medieval Armenian kingdom  that covered much of present day Armenia and eastern Turkey. Called the "City of 1001 Churches", it stood on various trade routes and its many religious buildings, palaces, and fortifications were amongst the most technically and artistically advanced structures in the world.<br />
At its height, with a population of more than 100,000 people, was a rival of Constantinople. Ani has been abandoned and largely forgotten for centuries and only in the 19th century European travelers rediscovered Ani for the outside world.
    em2712823.jpg
  • Northeastern Anatolia. Ani, a ruined and uninhabited medieval city situated near the border with Armenia. King Gagik's church of St Gregory, also known as the Gagikashen, was constructed between the years 1001 and 1005. The designer of the church was the architect Trdat. The church is known to have collapsed a relatively short time after its construction. Ani was once the capital of a medieval Armenian kingdom  that covered much of present day Armenia and eastern Turkey. Called the "City of 1001 Churches", it stood on various trade routes and its many religious buildings, palaces, and fortifications were amongst the most technically and artistically advanced structures in the world.<br />
At its height, with a population of more than 100,000 people, was a rival of Constantinople. Ani has been abandoned and largely forgotten for centuries and only in the 19th century European travelers rediscovered Ani for the outside world.
    em2712951.jpg
  • Midyat, Mar Gabriel syriac monastery, founded by St Samuel and St Simeon (397 A.C. ). Till today is the seat of Tur Abdin syriac bishops. Workers rebuilding the old buidings.
    em2711796.jpg
  • Northeastern Anatolia. Ani, a ruined and uninhabited medieval city situated near the border with Armenia. The church of St Gregory of the Abughamrents probably dates from the late tenth century and was built as a private chapel for the Pahlavuni family. Ani was once the capital of a medieval Armenian kingdom  that covered much of present day Armenia and eastern Turkey. Called the "City of 1001 Churches", it stood on various trade routes and its many religious buildings, palaces, and fortifications were amongst the most technically and artistically advanced structures in the world.<br />
At its height, with a population of more than 100,000 people, was a rival of Constantinople. Ani has been abandoned and largely forgotten for centuries and only in the 19th century European travelers rediscovered Ani for the outside world.
    em2712826.jpg
  • Northeastern Anatolia. Ani, a ruined and uninhabited medieval city, is located on a  dramatic and naturally defensive site protected on its eastern side by the ravine of the Arpa Kayi (or Akhurian River) that forms part of the current border between Turkey (first plane) and Armenia (back). Ani was once the capital of a medieval Armenian kingdom  that covered much of present day Armenia and eastern Turkey. Called the "City of 1001 Churches", it stood on various trade routes and its many religious buildings, palaces, and fortifications were amongst the most technically and artistically advanced structures in the world.<br />
At its height, with a population of more than 100,000 people, was a rival of Constantinople. Ani has been abandoned and largely forgotten for centuries and only in the 19th century European travelers rediscovered Ani for the outside world.
    em2712828.jpg
  • Northeastern Anatolia. Ani, a ruined and uninhabited medieval city situated near the border with Armenia. The city was protected by a double line of walls,  studded by numerous large semicircular towers. Contemporary chroniclers wrote that King Smbat (977-989) built these walls.  Armenian inscriptions from the 12th and 13th century show that private individuals paid for some of these newer towers. Ani was once the capital of a medieval Armenian kingdom  that covered much of present day Armenia and eastern Turkey. Called the "City of 1001 Churches", it stood on various trade routes and its many religious buildings, palaces, and fortifications were amongst the most technically and artistically advanced structures in the world.<br />
At its height, with a population of more than 100,000 people, was a rival of Constantinople. Ani has been abandoned and largely forgotten for centuries and only in the 19th century European travelers rediscovered Ani for the outside world.
    em2712879.jpg
  • Northeastern Anatolia. Ani, a ruined and uninhabited medieval city situated near the border with Armenia. The church of St Gregory of Tigran Honents, finished in 1215, is the best-preserved monument at Ani. In front of its entrance are the ruins of a narthex and a small chapel and the exterior of the church is decorated of real and imaginary animals. The interior contains an important and unique series of frescoes cycles that depict two main themes, the Life of Saint Gregory the Illuminator and the life of Christ. Ani was once the capital of a medieval Armenian kingdom  that covered much of present day Armenia and eastern Turkey. Called the "City of 1001 Churches", it stood on various trade routes and its many religious buildings, palaces, and fortifications were amongst the most technically and artistically advanced structures in the world.<br />
At its height, with a population of more than 100,000 people, was a rival of Constantinople. Ani has been abandoned and largely forgotten for centuries and only in the 19th century European travelers rediscovered Ani for the outside world.
    em2712902.jpg
  • Northeastern Anatolia. Ani, a ruined and uninhabited medieval city situated near the border with Armenia. The church of St Gregory of Tigran Honents, finished in 1215, is the best-preserved monument at Ani. In front of its entrance are the ruins of a narthex and a small chapel and the exterior of the church is decorated of real and imaginary animals. The interior contains an important and unique series of frescoes cycles that depict two main themes, the Life of Saint Gregory the Illuminator and the life of Christ. Ani was once the capital of a medieval Armenian kingdom  that covered much of present day Armenia and eastern Turkey. Called the "City of 1001 Churches", it stood on various trade routes and its many religious buildings, palaces, and fortifications were amongst the most technically and artistically advanced structures in the world.<br />
At its height, with a population of more than 100,000 people, was a rival of Constantinople. Ani has been abandoned and largely forgotten for centuries and only in the 19th century European travelers rediscovered Ani for the outside world.
    em2712934.jpg
  • Northeastern Anatolia. Kizil Kilise (Karmir Vank) a old monastery near the Kurdish village of Yagkesen, not far from Ani, a ruined and uninhabited medieval city situated near the border with Armenia.
    em2712974.jpg
  • Northeastern Anatolia. Ani, a ruined and uninhabited medieval city situated near the border with Armenia. The church of the Redeemer (Surb Prkich) was completed after the year 1035 to house a fragment of the True Cross. The church was largely intact until 1955, when the entire eastern half collapsed during a storm. Ani was once the capital of a medieval Armenian kingdom  that covered much of present day Armenia and eastern Turkey. Called the "City of 1001 Churches", it stood on various trade routes and its many religious buildings, palaces, and fortifications were amongst the most technically and artistically advanced structures in the world.<br />
At its height, with a population of more than 100,000 people, was a rival of Constantinople. Ani has been abandoned and largely forgotten for centuries and only in the 19th century European travelers rediscovered Ani for the outside world.
    em2712805.jpg
  • Northeastern Anatolia. Ani, a ruined and uninhabited medieval city situated near the border with Armenia. The city was protected by a double line of walls,  studded by numerous large semicircular towers. Contemporary chroniclers wrote that King Smbat (977-989) built these walls.  Armenian inscriptions from the 12th and 13th century show that private individuals paid for some of these newer towers. Ani was once the capital of a medieval Armenian kingdom  that covered much of present day Armenia and eastern Turkey. Called the "City of 1001 Churches", it stood on various trade routes and its many religious buildings, palaces, and fortifications were amongst the most technically and artistically advanced structures in the world.<br />
At its height, with a population of more than 100,000 people, was a rival of Constantinople. Ani has been abandoned and largely forgotten for centuries and only in the 19th century European travelers rediscovered Ani for the outside world.
    em2712885.jpg
  • Northeastern Anatolia. Ani, a ruined and uninhabited medieval city situated near the border with Armenia. The design of the Cathedral of Ani or Surp Asdvadzadzin (church of the Holy Mother of God finished in 1001) was the work of Trdat, the most celebrated architect of medieval Armenia. The cathedral is a domed basilica that contains several progressive features (pointed arches and clustered piers) that give to it the appearance of Gothic architecture (a style which the Ani cathedral predates by several centuries). Ani was once the capital of a medieval Armenian kingdom  that covered much of present day Armenia and eastern Turkey. Called the "City of 1001 Churches", it stood on various trade routes and its many religious buildings, palaces, and fortifications were amongst the most technically and artistically advanced structures in the world.<br />
At its height, with a population of more than 100,000 people, was a rival of Constantinople. Ani has been abandoned and largely forgotten for centuries and only in the 19th century European travelers rediscovered Ani for the outside world.
    em2712840.jpg
  • Northeastern Anatolia. Ani, a ruined and uninhabited medieval city situated near the border with Armenia. The design of the Cathedral of Ani or Surp Asdvadzadzin (church of the Holy Mother of God finished in 1001) was the work of Trdat, the most celebrated architect of medieval Armenia. The cathedral is a domed basilica that contains several progressive features (pointed arches and clustered piers) that give to it the appearance of Gothic architecture (a style which the Ani cathedral predates by several centuries). Ani was once the capital of a medieval Armenian kingdom  that covered much of present day Armenia and eastern Turkey. Called the "City of 1001 Churches", it stood on various trade routes and its many religious buildings, palaces, and fortifications were amongst the most technically and artistically advanced structures in the world.<br />
At its height, with a population of more than 100,000 people, was a rival of Constantinople. Ani has been abandoned and largely forgotten for centuries and only in the 19th century European travelers rediscovered Ani for the outside world.
    em2712846.jpg
  • Northeastern Anatolia. Ani, a ruined and uninhabited medieval city situated near the border with Armenia. The church of St Gregory of Tigran Honents, finished in 1215, is the best-preserved monument at Ani. In front of its entrance are the ruins of a narthex and a small chapel and the exterior of the church is decorated of real and imaginary animals. The interior contains an important and unique series of frescoes cycles that depict two main themes, the Life of Saint Gregory the Illuminator and the life of Christ. Ani was once the capital of a medieval Armenian kingdom  that covered much of present day Armenia and eastern Turkey. Called the "City of 1001 Churches", it stood on various trade routes and its many religious buildings, palaces, and fortifications were amongst the most technically and artistically advanced structures in the world.<br />
At its height, with a population of more than 100,000 people, was a rival of Constantinople. Ani has been abandoned and largely forgotten for centuries and only in the 19th century European travelers rediscovered Ani for the outside world.
    em2712894.jpg
  • Northeastern Anatolia. Van Lake. Akdamar Island  is the home to a tenth century Armenian church, known as the Cathedral Church of the Holy Cross (915-921), was the seat of an Armenian Catholicos from 1116 to 1895. Armenian King Gagik I Artsruni (908-944) chose Agt'hamar (the Armenian name of the island) as one of his residences. The only surviving structure is the Palatine Cathedral of the Holy Cross built by the architect-monk Manuel.<br />
The unique importance of the Cathedral Church of the Holy Cross comes from the extensive array of bas-relief carving of mostly biblical scenes that adorn its external walls. The meanings of these reliefs have been the subject of much and varied interpretation.
    em2713349.jpg
  • Northeastern Anatolia. Ani, a ruined and uninhabited medieval city situated near the border with Armenia. The church of St Gregory of Tigran Honents, finished in 1215, is the best-preserved monument at Ani. In front of its entrance are the ruins of a narthex and a small chapel and the exterior of the church is decorated of real and imaginary animals. The interior contains an important and unique series of frescoes cycles that depict two main themes, the Life of Saint Gregory the Illuminator and the life of Christ. Ani was once the capital of a medieval Armenian kingdom  that covered much of present day Armenia and eastern Turkey. Called the "City of 1001 Churches", it stood on various trade routes and its many religious buildings, palaces, and fortifications were amongst the most technically and artistically advanced structures in the world.<br />
At its height, with a population of more than 100,000 people, was a rival of Constantinople. Ani has been abandoned and largely forgotten for centuries and only in the 19th century European travelers rediscovered Ani for the outside world.
    em2712908.jpg
  • em2712914.jpg
  • Northeastern Anatolia. Ani, a ruined and uninhabited medieval city situated near the border with Armenia. The church of St Gregory of Tigran Honents, finished in 1215, is the best-preserved monument at Ani. In front of its entrance are the ruins of a narthex and a small chapel and the exterior of the church is decorated of real and imaginary animals. The interior contains an important and unique series of frescoes cycles that depict two main themes, the Life of Saint Gregory the Illuminator and the life of Christ. Ani was once the capital of a medieval Armenian kingdom  that covered much of present day Armenia and eastern Turkey. Called the "City of 1001 Churches", it stood on various trade routes and its many religious buildings, palaces, and fortifications were amongst the most technically and artistically advanced structures in the world.<br />
At its height, with a population of more than 100,000 people, was a rival of Constantinople. Ani has been abandoned and largely forgotten for centuries and only in the 19th century European travelers rediscovered Ani for the outside world.
    em2712915.jpg
  • Northeastern Anatolia. Ani, a ruined and uninhabited medieval city situated near the border with Armenia. The church of St Gregory of Tigran Honents, finished in 1215, is the best-preserved monument at Ani. In front of its entrance are the ruins of a narthex and a small chapel and the exterior of the church is decorated of real and imaginary animals. The interior contains an important and unique series of frescoes cycles that depict two main themes, the Life of Saint Gregory the Illuminator and the life of Christ. Ani was once the capital of a medieval Armenian kingdom  that covered much of present day Armenia and eastern Turkey. Called the "City of 1001 Churches", it stood on various trade routes and its many religious buildings, palaces, and fortifications were amongst the most technically and artistically advanced structures in the world.<br />
At its height, with a population of more than 100,000 people, was a rival of Constantinople. Ani has been abandoned and largely forgotten for centuries and only in the 19th century European travelers rediscovered Ani for the outside world.
    em2712916.jpg
  • Northeastern Anatolia. Ani, a ruined and uninhabited medieval city situated near the border with Armenia. The church of St Gregory of Tigran Honents, finished in 1215, is the best-preserved monument at Ani. In front of its entrance are the ruins of a narthex and a small chapel and the exterior of the church is decorated of real and imaginary animals. The interior contains an important and unique series of frescoes cycles that depict two main themes, the Life of Saint Gregory the Illuminator and the life of Christ. Ani was once the capital of a medieval Armenian kingdom  that covered much of present day Armenia and eastern Turkey. Called the "City of 1001 Churches", it stood on various trade routes and its many religious buildings, palaces, and fortifications were amongst the most technically and artistically advanced structures in the world.<br />
At its height, with a population of more than 100,000 people, was a rival of Constantinople. Ani has been abandoned and largely forgotten for centuries and only in the 19th century European travelers rediscovered Ani for the outside world.
    em2712920.jpg
  • Northeastern Anatolia. Ani, a ruined and uninhabited medieval city situated near the border with Armenia. Kervansaray or church of the Holy Apostles founded by the Pahlavuni family and used by the archbishops of Ani. Only fragments remain of the church, but a narthex with spectacular stonework . Ani was once the capital of a medieval Armenian kingdom  that covered much of present day Armenia and eastern Turkey. Called the "City of 1001 Churches", it stood on various trade routes and its many religious buildings, palaces, and fortifications were amongst the most technically and artistically advanced structures in the world.<br />
At its height, with a population of more than 100,000 people, was a rival of Constantinople. Ani has been abandoned and largely forgotten for centuries and only in the 19th century European travelers rediscovered Ani for the outside world.
    em2712944.jpg
  • Northeastern Anatolia. Ani, a ruined and uninhabited medieval city situated near the border with Armenia. Kervansaray or church of the Holy Apostles founded by the Pahlavuni family and used by the archbishops of Ani. Only fragments remain of the church, but a narthex with spectacular stonework . Ani was once the capital of a medieval Armenian kingdom  that covered much of present day Armenia and eastern Turkey. Called the "City of 1001 Churches", it stood on various trade routes and its many religious buildings, palaces, and fortifications were amongst the most technically and artistically advanced structures in the world.<br />
At its height, with a population of more than 100,000 people, was a rival of Constantinople. Ani has been abandoned and largely forgotten for centuries and only in the 19th century European travelers rediscovered Ani for the outside world.
    em2712948.jpg
  • Northeastern Anatolia. Ani, a ruined and uninhabited medieval city situated near the border with Armenia. Kervansaray or church of the Holy Apostles founded by the Pahlavuni family and used by the archbishops of Ani. Only fragments remain of the church, but a narthex with spectacular stonework . Ani was once the capital of a medieval Armenian kingdom  that covered much of present day Armenia and eastern Turkey. Called the "City of 1001 Churches", it stood on various trade routes and its many religious buildings, palaces, and fortifications were amongst the most technically and artistically advanced structures in the world.<br />
At its height, with a population of more than 100,000 people, was a rival of Constantinople. Ani has been abandoned and largely forgotten for centuries and only in the 19th century European travelers rediscovered Ani for the outside world.
    em2712949.jpg
  • Northeastern Anatolia. Ani, a ghost medieval city near the border with Armenia. View from the Minuchir mosque, caimed as the first built in Anatolia by the Seljuk Turks and the oldest surviving part  is its still intact minaret. View of the Arpa Kayi (or Akhurian River) that forms part of the current border between Turkey (first plane) and Armenia (back) with the ruins of Silk road's old bridge. Ani was once the capital of a medieval Armenian kingdom  that covered much of present day Armenia and eastern Turkey. Called the "City of 1001 Churches", it stood on various trade routes and its many religious buildings, palaces, and fortifications were amongst the most technically and artistically advanced structures in the world.<br />
At its height, with a population of more than 100,000 people, was a rival of Constantinople. Only in the 19th century European travelers rediscovered Ani.
    em2712961.jpg
  • Northeastern Anatolia. Ani, a ruined and uninhabited medieval city situated near the border with Armenia. The city was protected by a double line of walls,  studded by numerous large semicircular towers. Contemporary chroniclers wrote that King Smbat (977-989) built these walls.  Armenian inscriptions from the 12th and 13th century show that private individuals paid for some of these newer towers. Ani was once the capital of a medieval Armenian kingdom  that covered much of present day Armenia and eastern Turkey. Called the "City of 1001 Churches", it stood on various trade routes and its many religious buildings, palaces, and fortifications were amongst the most technically and artistically advanced structures in the world.<br />
At its height, with a population of more than 100,000 people, was a rival of Constantinople. Ani has been abandoned and largely forgotten for centuries and only in the 19th century European travelers rediscovered Ani for the outside world.
    em2713755.jpg
  • Northeastern Anatolia. landscapes and Kurdish sheperds near the border between Turkey and Armenia not far from Ani, a ruined and uninhabited medieval city.
    em2712975.jpg
  • Northeastern Anatolia. landscapes and Kurdish sheperds near the border between Turkey and Armenia not far from Ani, a ruined and uninhabited medieval city.
    em2712982.jpg
  • Northeastern Anatolia.  Farmers in the Ocakli Koyu Kurdish village near the border between Turkey and Armenia, not far from Ani, a ruined and uninhabited medieval city.
    em2713759.jpg
  • Mardin, a beautiful ancient town of honey coloured stone houses overlooking the vast Mesopotamian plains extending to Syria. A traditional coffee house inside the bazaar. Mardin still has a small Chiristian minority.
    em2711651.jpg
  • Mardin, a beautiful ancient town of honey coloured stone houses overlooking the vast Mesopotamian plains extending to Syria. A traditional coffee house. Mardin still has a small Chiristian minority.
    em2711655.jpg
  • Mardin. Syriac  monastery of Deyrul Zafaran, "Saffron  monastery" because the local tradition tought  was built with saffron and lime. Once was the seat of the Syriac patriarch.
    em2711697.jpg
  • Mardin, a beautiful ancient town of honey coloured stone houses overlooking the vast Mesopotamian plains extending to Syria. Once the town was home to a large Syrian Christian community. The city has still a strong police and military presence.
    em2711702.jpg
  • Midyat, Mar Gabriel syriac monastery, founded by St Samuel and St Simeon (397 A.C. ). Till today is the seat of Tur Abdin syriac bishops.
    em2711798.jpg
  • Mardin, a beautiful ancient town of honey coloured stone houses overlooking the vast Mesopotamian plains extending to Syria.
    em2713781.jpg
  • Mardin. Syriac  monastery of Deyrul Zafaran, "Saffron  monastery" because the local tradition tought  was built with saffron and lime. Once was the seat of the Syriac patriarch.
    em2713793.jpg
  • Midyat, Mor Gabriel syriac monastery, founded by St Samuel and St Simeon (397 A.C. ). Till today is the seat of Tur Abdin syriac bishops.
    em2711793.jpg
  • Midyat, Mor Gabriel syriac monastery, founded by St Samuel and St Simeon (397 A.C. ). Till today is the seat of Tur Abdin syriac bishops.
    em2711794.jpg
  • Northeastern Anatolia. Van Lake. Landscape near Altinsaç village.
    em2713206.jpg
  • Northeastern Anatolia. Van Lake. Landscape between Akdamar and Tatvan.
    em2713215.jpg
  • Northeastern Anatolia. Van Lake. Fishermen near  Gorundu village.
    em2713221.jpg
  • Northeastern Anatolia. Van Lake. Akdamar Island  is the home to a tenth century Armenian church, known as the Cathedral Church of the Holy Cross (915-921), was the seat of an Armenian Catholicos from 1116 to 1895. Armenian King Gagik I Artsruni (908-944) chose Agt'hamar (the Armenian name of the island) as one of his residences. The only surviving structure is the Palatine Cathedral of the Holy Cross built by the architect-monk Manuel.<br />
The unique importance of the Cathedral Church of the Holy Cross comes from the extensive array of bas-relief carving of mostly biblical scenes that adorn its external walls. The meanings of these reliefs have been the subject of much and varied interpretation.
    em2713326.jpg
  • Northeastern Anatolia. Van Lake. Akdamar Island  is the home to a tenth century Armenian church, known as the Cathedral Church of the Holy Cross (915-921), was the seat of an Armenian Catholicos from 1116 to 1895. Armenian King Gagik I Artsruni (908-944) chose Agt'hamar (the Armenian name of the island) as one of his residences. The only surviving structure is the Palatine Cathedral of the Holy Cross built by the architect-monk Manuel.<br />
The unique importance of the Cathedral Church of the Holy Cross comes from the extensive array of bas-relief carving of mostly biblical scenes that adorn its external walls. The meanings of these reliefs have been the subject of much and varied interpretation.
    em2713340-1.jpg
  • Northeastern Anatolia. Van Lake. Akdamar Island  is the home to a tenth century Armenian church, known as the Cathedral Church of the Holy Cross (915-921), was the seat of an Armenian Catholicos from 1116 to 1895. Armenian King Gagik I Artsruni (908-944) chose Agt'hamar (the Armenian name of the island) as one of his residences. The only surviving structure is the Palatine Cathedral of the Holy Cross built by the architect-monk Manuel.<br />
The unique importance of the Cathedral Church of the Holy Cross comes from the extensive array of bas-relief carving of mostly biblical scenes that adorn its external walls. The meanings of these reliefs have been the subject of much and varied interpretation.
    em2713346.jpg
  • Northeastern Anatolia. Van Lake. Akdamar Island  is the home to a tenth century Armenian church, known as the Cathedral Church of the Holy Cross (915-921), was the seat of an Armenian Catholicos from 1116 to 1895. Armenian King Gagik I Artsruni (908-944) chose Agt'hamar (the Armenian name of the island) as one of his residences. The only surviving structure is the Palatine Cathedral of the Holy Cross built by the architect-monk Manuel.<br />
The unique importance of the Cathedral Church of the Holy Cross comes from the extensive array of bas-relief carving of mostly biblical scenes that adorn its external walls. The meanings of these reliefs have been the subject of much and varied interpretation.
    em2713348.jpg
  • Northeastern Anatolia. Van Lake. Akdamar Island  is the home to a tenth century Armenian church, known as the Cathedral Church of the Holy Cross (915-921), was the seat of an Armenian Catholicos from 1116 to 1895. Armenian King Gagik I Artsruni (908-944) chose Agt'hamar (the Armenian name of the island) as one of his residences. The only surviving structure is the Palatine Cathedral of the Holy Cross built by the architect-monk Manuel.<br />
The unique importance of the Cathedral Church of the Holy Cross comes from the extensive array of bas-relief carving of mostly biblical scenes that adorn its external walls. The meanings of these reliefs have been the subject of much and varied interpretation.
    em2713355.jpg
  • Northeastern Anatolia. Van Lake. Akdamar Island  is the home to a tenth century Armenian church, known as the Cathedral Church of the Holy Cross (915-921). The surviving Armenian stelae of the cemetery. The only surviving structure is the Palatine Cathedral of the Holy Cross built by the architect-monk Manuel.
    em2713377.jpg
  • Northeastern Anatolia. Van Lake. Akdamar Island  is the home to a tenth century Armenian church, known as the Cathedral Church of the Holy Cross (915-921).
    em2713383.jpg
  • Northeastern Anatolia. Oskvank (Oshki), Georgian church dedicated to St John the Baptists is the grandest of the Georgian cathedrals in this region. Built in 958 -61 by Duke Bagrat and David Curapalates. A impressive  big building hidden in the mountains, village still in a relaively good shape.
    em2713441.jpg
  • Northeastern Anatolia. Oskvank (Oshki), Georgian church dedicated to St John the Baptists is the grandest of the Georgian cathedrals in this region. Built in 958 -61 by Duke Bagrat and David Curapalates. A impressive  big building hidden in the mountains, village still in a relaively good shape.
    em2713458.jpg
  • Northeastern Anatolia. Oskvank (Oshki), Georgian church dedicated to St John the Baptists is the grandest of the Georgian cathedrals in this region. Built in 958 -61 by Duke Bagrat and David Curapalates. A impressive  big building hidden in the mountains, village still in a relaively good shape.
    em2713460.jpg
  • Northeastern Anatolia. Oskvank (Oshki), Georgian church dedicated to St John the Baptists is the grandest of the Georgian cathedrals in this region. Built in 958 -61 by Duke Bagrat and David Curapalates. A impressive  big building hidden in the mountains, village still in a relaively good shape.
    em2713461.jpg
  • Northeastern Anatolia. Oskvank (Oshki), Georgian church dedicated to St John the Baptists is the grandest of the Georgian cathedrals in this region. Built in 958 -61 by Duke Bagrat and David Curapalates. A impressive  big building hidden in the mountains, village still in a relaively good shape.
    em2713464.jpg
  • Northeastern Anatolia. Landscape near Tortum Lake. The valleys between Erzurum and Yusufeli onve were part of the Kingdom of Georgia.
    em2713477.jpg
  • Northeastern Anatolia. Ataturk portrait in a restaurant on Tortum Lake. The valleys between Erzurum and Yusufeli onve were part of the Kingdom of Georgia.
    em2713479.jpg
  • Northeastern Anatolia. Kars. A traditional tea house near Kars river, on the back the castle. This fortress has been a strategic spot since earliest times but historically has ben built by Saltut Turks in 1153 and torn down by Mongol conqueror Tamerlane in 1386. The castle was the scene of bloody fightings after WWI, when Russian army whithdrew, between Armenian and Turkish forces in 1920.
    em2713011.jpg
  • Northeastern Anatolia. Kars. Ataturk monument.
    em2713019.jpg
  • Northeastern Anatolia. Kars. Ataturk monument.
    em2713020.jpg
  • Northeastern Anatolia. Kars. A woman near the old iron bridge mentioned in the novel Kar (Snow) by Orhan Pamuk.
    em2713022.jpg
  • Northeastern Anatolia. Kars. A woman washing sheep wool in a street.
    em2713024.jpg
  • Northeastern Anatolia. Kars. A woman washing sheep wool in a street.
    em2713028.jpg
  • Northeastern Anatolia. Kars, barber's shop.
    em2713037.jpg
  • Northeastern Anatolia. Kars, pastry shop.
    em2713041.jpg
  • Northeastern Anatolia. Lake Van, Tatvan at night.
    em2713308.jpg
  • Mardin, a beautiful ancient town of honey coloured stone houses overlooking the vast Mesopotamian plains extending to Syria. The rambling bazaar. Mardin still has a small Chiristian minority.
    em2711653.jpg
  • Mardin. Syriac  monastery of Deyrul Zafaran, "Saffron  monastery" because the local tradition tought  was built with saffron and lime. Once was the seat of the Syriac patriarch.
    em2711696.jpg
  • Mardin. Syriac  monastery of Deyrul Zafaran, "Saffron  monastery" because the local tradition tought  was built with saffron and lime. Once was the seat of the Syriac patriarch.
    em2711699.jpg
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enrico martino

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