armenian monastery turkish seven churches armenian monastery slopes southeast city van eastern turkey monastery founded early 11th century armenian king religious site initially serving kings eventually seat archbishop van monastery described great monastic centers armenian church richest celebrated monastery area armenian genocide april turkish army attacked burned destroyed monastery destroyed 1960s good sections barely extant history origins according tradition late 3rd century hid remnant wore neck site monastery location discovered builder built described simple established celebrated sunday nearest september weeks daughter armenian king future built church site dedicated late medieval period converted castle known means fortress armenian built north 10th century foundation medieval period monastery founded early reign house kept site fell byzantine rule took following year son founded following death buried returned monastery fearing attack muslims father took region northeastern armenia settled monastery renamed new invaded region monastery churches destroyed iron door monks hid monastery completely restored modern period persian monastery buildings region destroyed earthquake restoration began immediately monastery father found financial support wealthy merchants van according 17th century historian churches restored renovated architect built square planned west functioned church 19th century called west 17th century arched open air porch north south 17th century inscriptions western entrances prince invaded monastery looting manuscripts treasures cross later added monastery declined late 17th century treasures sold economic difficulties archbishop renovated monastery father decorated walls according unknown painter fused styles armenian persian western european art 19th century wall built monastery fourteen years later completely renovated converted manuscripts archbishop van robbed monastery treasures father death restored destroyed earthquake converted wheat warehouse future head father monastery effectively independent subordinate founded printing house began publishing eagle newspaper historical armenia published established modern school school taught subjects theology music grammar geography armenian studies history prominent novelist briefly teachers school produced graduates monastery sacked robbed teachers students killed according contemporary report american van famous historic monastery van region storms centuries certain fire abandonment early early stages armenian genocide turkish government forces laid siege van local organized self defense notable resistance turkish campaign april monastery held captured burnt turks time late april early date burning monastery contested april message sent americans foreign consul missionaries said window mountain store ancient manuscripts going smoke missionary wife wrote diary monastery attacked cavalry foot soldiers april repulsed gave day monastery burned american missionary teacher recounted 8th saw place flames near ancient manuscripts went smoke van governor ordered composed equipped cannons attack armenian defenders overwhelmed monastery collections medieval manuscripts burned destroyed current state significant number structures surviving destruction destroyed 1960s monastery remains barn according historian good sections barely survived days scholar turkey wrote visit remains monastery consisted brick house goats amid clutch homes best preserved section monastery church george looked dome partly collapsed contains traces surviving dome church entirely gone february following renovation lake van deputy governor announced sought restore monastery june year governor stated monastery renovated near future october reported nearby mosque built demolished room restoration monastery damaged result van earthquake according parts main church collapsed parts significantly weakened old cracks got bigger new ones appeared turkish engineers reportedly inspected announced commence restoration work spring wrote promises past needs little skeptical current state church makes work harder time past noted article local provincial governments supported preservation restoration monastery october artist contributed restoration stated hoped restore added van agreed launch restoration project social natural obstacles delayed process ownership reported september monastery owned turkish journalist media executive interview told newspaper monastery belonged grandfather inherited father monastery confiscated group turkey led activist started petition asking apply transfer title deed church concerned armenian community foundation told ready government authority approached respond offer church owners displayed interest activists demonstrated early october headquarters istanbul demanding return monastery land september progress architecture manuscripts monastery composed churches structures main church called holy mother god dated 11th century similar plan prominent earliest structure southern ensemble known 10th century left inscription dated western wall 10th century wife presented monastery gospel queen arm best known armenian illuminated manuscripts 14th 16th centuries monastery major center manuscript production number manuscripts kept cultural references mentions monastery volume novel prominent poet wrote article monastery anniversary father monastery subsequent revival great center education culture european visitors large armenian convent seven churches built substantial stone masonry courtyard planted trees church substantial modern stand courtyard walls covered primitive design execution broken formed noble object plain upper valleys named mountain lies important monastery residence archbishop good school monastery situated slopes mountain frequented numerous neighbourhood gallery
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