The historical Armenian Holy Virgin Monastery, which is located in the Gürpınar district of Van,Turkey, continues to be targeted by treasure hunters. Van Yüzüncü Yıl University (YYÜ) Faculty of Letters Department of Art History Faculty Member Mehmet Top stated that the monastery should be brought to faith tourism.
Gürpınar district hosts many historical monuments. While historical buildings are sometimes succumbed to natural events, they are sometimes destroyed by treasure hunters. Saint Marinos Monastery in Akboyu Neighborhood, built by Armenians living in the Ottoman period, was plundered by treasure hunters. It is noteworthy that at the beginning of the 20th century, approximately 300 Armenian nuns remained for seclusion, the dome of which was made of stones from the outside and the mud mortar, which is mostly called slime. Van Yüzüncü Yıl University (YYÜ) Faculty of Letters Department of Art History Faculty Member Mehmet Top stated that the monastery, which is 7 kilometers from the district and 3 kilometers from the district, was built by the Armenians during the Ottoman Empire.
Stating that the monastery was damaged in the Van earthquake that occurred in 1648, Mehmet Top said: “This monastery has been called as the virgin monastery throughout the history. It is a collection of structures consisting of a church and other monastery structures. It is mentioned in the historical records as a building after the earthquake of 1648. The Saint Marinos monastery is a monastery place for the maidens, especially as the monastery where the nuns stay. A place where they raise their students, of course, men and women are raised separately in the monastery.
As this name suggests, it attracts our attention as a monastery where more nuns stay and are raised. It is known that the last 200-300 nuns stayed here in the monastery, which was in operation until the end of the 20th century. It is important in this respect. Of course, this monastery, which was later abandoned to its own fate after the Christians left the region, draws our attention as a place where treasure hunters are heavily destroyed today. We can see many destructions and ruins clearly and clearly inside the church. In this sense, it is a structure that can be brought to faith tourism by its location. In this respect, perhaps the building can be maintained, the pathway can be arranged and the environment can be brought to tourism by removing the destruction in it.
Dr. Faculty Member Mehmet Top pointed out that there is also a part of the monastery in the church. Explaining that there are shelters for Armenian nuns in the monastery, Top said, “There are shelters for the nuns here. This is a sheltered place surrounded by high stone walls. It is a protected place like a castle. They are worshiping here more. east side, there is a church where prayers are made in the form of a semicircle, next to them are the chambers of the Christians or the chambers where the clergy enter. The part where the church section is located is covered with a dome. In other words, no lime and similar materials were used in the building. Of course, after the 18th century, especially after the earthquake that occurred in 1648, the church suffered great damage. We can say that the church was rebuilt in that period. meets their structures ruzi. This monastery is called the virgin monastery. This monastery, which was founded on a trained land overlooking the plain between the two valleys, consists of churches and shelter rooms where the nuns stayed. “
Abidin Görentaş (70), one of the inhabitants of Akboyu Mahallesi, said, “Our neighborhood was established 600 years ago. It is the grandchild of my grandfather’s grandfather Sheikh Abdulkadir Geylani. This church is the church of the Armenians. My grandfather’s grandfather was their kir. “The church here would be great if it was repaired. The treasure hunters had destroyed this place. It is a historical work. It would be useful to make it,” he said.
H/T Hurriyet
