VANK CATHEDRAL (KELISA-E VANK)

Located in the small Kelisâ street, Vank Cathedral, whose work began in 1606, is among the most famous churches in Iran. The building, protected in an inner courtyard, is flanked by a campanile (1700) and topped with an Islamic dome. Beautiful interiors with evangelical frescoes of a rare quality, Dutch and Italian. See, in particular, the scenes of resurrection, the terrible Last Judgement and the representation of Saint Saint Grégoire. Also note ceramics (early th century) that belonged to rich Armenian merchants. At the entrance, stop before the tombstones written in Armenian, whose alphabet invented by the monk Mesrop appears in the th century. Don't miss the visit of the beautiful adjoining museum. Open at the same time as those of the cathedral. The ground floor is partly devoted to the genocide committed by the Turkish authorities in 1915, responsible for the death of one and a half million Armenians. On 24 April, Armenian-Iranian demonstrations show thousands before the Turkish Embassy in Tehran for Ankara's recognition of genocide. Take a look at the magnificent th and th centuries Gospels and the beautiful th and th centuries. See also the beautiful chalices and encensoirs of the th century and the works printed in the th century in Djolfa. Do not miss the inscription on a hair, inspired by the first sentence translated into Armenian in the 1974 th century and realized by an artist in. Finally note a portrait of Abraham attributed to Rembrandt (1606-1669). In the same district, in addition to the Armenian cathedral Vank, visit the church of Bethlehem erected in 1628 (rue Nazar) and the Church of St. Mary.