Cemetery at Church of the Holy Cross (Akdamar island, Van Lake - East Turkey)
N 38° 20.434 E 043° 02.232
38S E 328463 N 4245425
Remnants of medieval Armenian cemetery with numerous beautiful carved tombstones you can find at Church of the Holy Cross located on sacred place of Akdamar island (Van Lake, East Turkey).
Waymark Code: WMC6CF
Location: Türkiye
Date Posted: 07/31/2011
Views: 5
Remnants of medieval Armenian cemetery with numerous beautiful carved tombstones you can find at Church of the Holy Cross located on sacred place of Akdamar island (Van Lake, East Turkey). The tombstones, originated from X.-XVI. century, are in a majority richly decorated by floral ornaments and cross-symbols.
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 and remnants of cemetery are all that remains today.