Church of St Prkitch

Far Northeast

LoginSave

Walking from the west, Ani's distinctive Church of the Redeemer (1034–36) looks strikingly complete despite the supporting scaffolding. From other angles, however, it's evident that the eastern half has collapsed (due to a 1957 lightning strike) and fencing prevents closer access. The church was built to house a portion of what was believed to be the True Cross of Jesus' crucifixion, brought here from Constantinople; the facade's Armenian inscriptions relay the history.

Also look for the superb khatchkar (cross stone) carved on an elaborate rectangular background, about 3m above ground.

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

  • Ani

    Ani

    0.4 MILES

    The ruins of Ani, 45km east of Kars, are an absolute must-see. Visitors enter through gigantic fortress walls that look like they fell off a crusader…

  • Tigran Honents Church

    Tigran Honents Church

    0.13 MILES

    Appealingly sited overlooking a stretch of river gorge, this 13th-century church appears relatively intact, though the current main door is within what…

  • Kars Castle

    Kars Castle

    26.67 MILES

    Dating from at least 1153, Kars Castle' s hefty, dark-stone walls crown the craggy ridge that dominates the city-centre's northern edge, fronted by a…

  • Ani Cathedral

    Ani Cathedral

    0.21 MILES

    Completed in 1010, the grassy-roofed cathedral is the largest building among the Ani ruins. The building's elegantly finished stone walls are relatively…

  • Manuçehr Camii

    Manuçehr Camii

    0.37 MILES

    Ani's 1072 Manuçehr Camii was built by the Seljuk Turks, using Armenian architects and artisans, creating a stylistic blend in what is considered to have…

  • Marmashen

    Marmashen

    25.03 MILES

    Marmashen’s location deep in a river valley 10km northwest of Gyumri is unusual – medieval monasteries in Armenia were almost always constructed in…

  • Museum of the Aslamazyan Sisters

    Museum of the Aslamazyan Sisters

    23.75 MILES

    Artists Mariam (1907–2006) and Yeranuhi (1910–98) Aslamazyan were born in Bash-Shirak village near Gyumri and two floors of this handsome 19th-century…

  • Harichavank

    Harichavank

    23.3 MILES

    Once the summer residence of the Catholicos of Etchmiadzin, the still-functioning Harichavank is located in the old town of Harich, about 4km from the…

View more attractions

Nearby Far Northeast attractions

1. Küçük Hamam

0.07 MILES

Near the Church of St Prkitch are the excavated remnants of this late 11th-century bathhouse.

2. Tigran Honents Church

0.13 MILES

Appealingly sited overlooking a stretch of river gorge, this 13th-century church appears relatively intact, though the current main door is within what…

3. Convent of the Virgins

0.18 MILES

Out of bounds just above Arpaçay gorge, this complex of ruins is most notable for the dainty, serrated-domed chapel (probably 11th-century) enclosed by a…

4. Ani Cathedral

0.21 MILES

Completed in 1010, the grassy-roofed cathedral is the largest building among the Ani ruins. The building's elegantly finished stone walls are relatively…

5. Silk Road Bridge Supports

0.27 MILES

Two unconnected brick towers are all that remain of a once important 9th-century bridge that formerly straddled the Arpaçay, the river that now forms the…

6. Ebu'l Muammeran Camii

0.27 MILES

The most substantial remnant of this 11th-century mosque is its minaret, now lying on its side with the spiral stairs inside clearly visible. It was…

7. Kervansaray

0.33 MILES

The Church of the Holy Apostles (Arak Elots Kilisesi) dates from 1031, but after the Seljuks took the city in 1064 they added a gateway with a fine dome…

8. Zoroastrian Temple

0.35 MILES

This ruined temple is thought to have been built in the 4th century AD, during a period of Sassanian influence from Persia. It might have been converted…