armenian monastic iran iran located provinces iran ensemble armenian churches established period 7th 14th centuries saint monastery chapel undergone renovations sites inscribed cultural 32nd session july world heritage list churches lie total area hectares acres inscribed criteria iii outstanding value showcasing armenian architectural decorative traditions major centre armenian culture region place pilgrimage key figure armenian religious traditions represent old armenian culture southeastern periphery ensemble good state preservation location iran located provinces iran ensemble consists armenian churches established period 7th 14th centuries saint monastery chapel undergone renovations churches lie total area hectares acres known black church province kilometres saint monastery kilometres west northwest iran history armenian people arrived northwestern iran known 6th century converted christianity early 4th century portion region forms historical armenia oldest armenian monasteries churches world located region iran region general home oldest churches iran according reports believed buried site 1st century responsible establishing monastery 4th century recorded proof dates 7th century second armenian church built following seat diocese 10th century destroyed earthquake rebuilt efforts bishop reign dynasty 15th century monasteries preserved monasteries deserted 16th 17th centuries following period attacks ottomans prompted central iran area monasteries renovated 18th century area conflicts domination russian ottoman persian finally gained control monasteries damaged era regained control monasteries rebuilt existing monastery rebuilt refurbished 1970s similarly recorded established new building constructed location 10th century major christian church history armenian independence development suffered damages earthquake rebuilt bishop entire 14th century centre influence region christian missionary work period marked creation literary manuscripts paintings religious themes monastery rebuilt period center religious activity refurbished 1970s period chapel built bank bishop modest lines making use earlier religious monument dated 10th 12th centuries period ottoman rule parts building destroyed later chapel came threat proposed dam shifted new location upstream world heritage status monasteries ensemble inscribed criteria iii outstanding value showcasing armenian architectural decorative traditions major centre armenian culture region place pilgrimage key figure armenian religious traditions represent old armenian culture southeastern periphery ensemble good state preservation architecture monuments represent blend architectural styles byzantine persian eastern orthodox persian muslim armenian cultures saint monastery saint monastery ensemble zones covers area hectares acres comprises monastery compound wall metres towers corners main monastery complex adjoining wall residential quarters built monks interior courtyard main religious structures located space metres large entrance built pillars main church called built greek cross plan umbrella shaped dome bell tower oldest ensemble crowned dome exterior artwork consists cut stone different colours armenian architectural art form ornamentation interior blend armenian persian themes northeast main monastery second zone kilometres away southeast monastery occupies area hectares acres location fifth chapel chapel saint monastery ensemble gorge borders central zone monastery area hectares acres main chapel located steep slope enclosed wall area metres residences built monks monastery length church built greek cross form metres height metres entrance topped bell tower built levels level rectangular shape second level pillars supporting umbrella shaped dome built style armenian religious architecture cut stone church paintings based similar ones blend christian islamic art forms downstream monastery area hectares acres village cemetery associated church located village destroyed church built form pillars supporting cemetery village tombs dated 16th century upstream kilometres away chapel meaning shepherd located close town bank area hectares acres preserved built rectangular plan metres dome supported rest structures chapel ruins chapel old chapel lies valley occupying area hectares acres present remnant large monastery existed entire chapel shifted new location metres away resulting dam built river building dismantled detailed plans dismantled elements numbered design new site stones new site rebuild chapel dome new stones numbered stones old site able according plan reconstruction carried period
Armenian Monastic Ensembles of Iran