Cathedral Church :: ARMENIAN HISTORICAL MONUMENTS

The Armenian Highland, the Homeland of Armenians

Church

Cathedral Church

Turkey / Kars / Bash-Shoragyal / Ani

Historical Introduction

The Cathedral of Ani is a true masterpiece of architecture founded in 989 by Bagratid King Smbat Tiezerakal (Master of the Universe) II (977 to 989) and designed by architect Trdat. After an interval of 11 years, its construction resumed in 1001 and was accomplished in 1010 by King Gagik I’s (he was Smbat II’s brother and held throne from 989 until 1020) wife, Queen Katramide.

Karapetian, Samvel. Ani 1050, Yerevan, 2011, p. 84.

The spire of the Cathedral used to be crowned with a silver cross of human height which was destroyed by Alp-Aslan, who conquered Ani in 1064, together with a chandelier of cut glass.

Karapetian, Samvel. Ani 1050, Yerevan, 2011, p. 84.

Architectural Description

The Cathedral represents a tri-nave domed basilica standing on a five-step socle. It has a double-floor sacristy on either side of the chancel. The walls of the Cathedral—particularly the southern and western ones—abound in inscriptions (its southern facade bears its construction inscription of 21 lines).

Karapetian, Samvel. Ani 1050, Yerevan, 2011, p. 84.

Exterior dimensions: 34.6 x 22.1 metres.

Karapetian, Samvel. Ani 1050, Yerevan, 2011, p. 84.

Earthquakes
1319 y․

The dome of the Cathedral was ruined by the earthquake of 1319 (another source traces its destruction back to the early 19th century).

Karapetian, Samvel. Ani 1050, Yerevan, 2011, p. 84.

1988 y․

Doomed to continual neglect and dilapidation, the western corner of the northern wall of the Cathedral collapsed during the earthquake of 1988.

Karapetian, Samvel. Ani 1050, Yerevan, 2011, p. 84.

Relief, Bird Reliefs 11 c․

Samvel Karapetian, Armenia, Yerevan, 2009, p. 324.

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative

Type Photo
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Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 2000 y․

Type Photo
View Interior
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 2000 y․

Type Photo
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Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 2000 y․

Type Photo
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Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 2000 y․

Type Photo
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Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 2000 y․

Type Photo
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Author Archive
Source Black-and-white negative

Type Photo
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Author Archive
Source Black-and-white negative

Type Photo
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Author Archive
Source Black-and-white negative

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Type Photo
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Source Black-and-white negative

Type Photo
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Author Archive
Source Black-and-white negative

Type Photo
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Author Artak Ghulian
Source Colour Negative

Type Photo
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Author Artak Ghulian
Source Colour Negative

Type Photo
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Author Archive
Source Black-and-white negative

Type Photo
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Author Archive
Source Black-and-white negative

Type Photo
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Source Black-and-white negative

Type Photo
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Author Archive
Source Black-and-white negative

Type Photo
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Source Black-and-white negative

Type Photo
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Author Zaven Sargissian
Source Colour Negative

Type Photo
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Author Zaven Sargissian
Source Colour Negative

Type Photo
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Author Zaven Sargissian
Source Colour Negative

Type Photo
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Source Colour Negative

Type Photo
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Source Colour Negative

Type Photo
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Source Colour Negative

Type Photo
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Author Archive
Source Black-and-white negative

Type Photo
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Author Archive
Source Black-and-white negative

Type Photo
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Author Archive
Source Black-and-white negative

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Author Archive
Source Black-and-white negative

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Type Photo
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Source Black-and-white negative

Type Photo
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Author Archive
Source Black-and-white negative

Type Photo
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Direction From the north-west
Author Toros Toramanian
Source Black-and-white negative
Date 1905 y․

Type Photo
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Author Archive
Source Black-and-white negative

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Source Black-and-white negative

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Type Photo
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Author Archive
Source Black-and-white negative

Type Photo
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Author Archive
Source Black-and-white negative

Type Oil Painting
View Exterior
Author Arshak Fetvajian
Source Oil Painting

Type Oil Painting
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Author Arshak Fetvajian
Source Oil Painting

Type Photo
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Author Armen Hakhnazarian
Source Colour Negative

Type Photo
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Author Armen Hakhnazarian
Source Colour Negative

Type Photo
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Author Archive
Source Black-and-white negative

Type Photo
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Author Archive
Source Black-and-white negative

Type Photo
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Author Archive
Source Black-and-white negative

Type Photo
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Direction From the south-east
Author Hrair Baze (the Hawk) Khacherian
Source Colour Negative

Type Photo
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Direction From the south-east
Author Hrayr-Baze Khacherian
Source Colour Negative
Date 2009 y․

Type Photo
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Direction From the north-west
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 2006 y․

Type Photo
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Direction From the north-east
Author Archive
Source Black-and-white negative
Date 1900 — 1910 yy․

Type Reconstruction
View Exterior
Author Artak Ghulian
Source Sketch

3D graphical reconstruction of the Cathedral (by architect Artak Ghulian)

Type Reconstruction
View Exterior
Author Artak Ghulian
Source Sketch

3D graphical reconstruction of the Cathedral (by architect Artak Ghulian)

Type Reconstruction
View Exterior
Author Armen Abroian
Source Sketch
Date 2004 y․

A reconstruction of the eastern facade of the Cathedral

Type Copied Lapidary Inscription
View Exterior
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Date 2011 y․

A traced copy of the construction inscription of the Cathedral

Type Photo
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Direction From the east
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 2011 y․

Type Measurement
View Exterior
Author Toros Toramanian, Ashot Hakobian
Source Sketch

The plan of the Cathedral (measurement of the church by T. Toramanian & measurement of the annexes by A. Hakobian, 2011)

Type Photo
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Direction From the south-west
Author Armen Hakhnazarian
Source Colour Negative
Date 1972 y․

Type Photo
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Direction From the north-west
Author Ashot Hakobian
Source Colour Negative
Date 2011 y․

The remnants of the tambour of the Cathedral from the north-west

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 2011 y․

Part of the ornamentation of the Cathedral

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 2011 y․

Part of the ornamentation of the Cathedral

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 2011 y․

Part of the ornamentation of the Cathedral

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Stephen Sim
Source Colour Negative
Date 1999 y․

Part of the ornamentation of the Cathedral

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 2011 y․

Part of the ornamentation of the Cathedral

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 2011 y․

Part of the ornamentation of the Cathedral

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Stephen Sim
Source Colour Negative
Date 1999 y․

Part of the ornamentation of the Cathedral

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 2006 y․

Part of the ornamentation of the Cathedral

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 2006 y․

The construction inscription (1001) of the Cathedral engraved on its southern facade

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 2006 y․

A donation inscription dated 1213 carved on the southern facade of the Cathedral

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 2006 y․

A donation inscriptions dated 1235 carved on the southern facade of the Cathedral

Type Photo
View Interior
Direction From the east
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 2011 y․

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 2004 y․

A partial view of its main apse

Type Photo
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Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 2011 y․

Khachkar

Khachkar