Vank Cathedral | the most Important church in Isfahan

Author : Cmin | Date : Tuesday 16 January 2024 15:54

Vank Cathedral in Isfahan

before the end of the seventeenth century, the city of Isfahan hosted six churches, while there were 24 churches in Jolfa Valley, and today there are only 13 churches left. Each of these churches has its specific character, but the Vank Cathedral in Isfahan shines like a diamond among Iran's tourism attractions.

Vank Cathedral or Holy Savior Cathedral was built in the time of Shah Abbas II. This church, as the most important church in New Jolfa, was the center for educating priests and caliphs, and it was a Christian seminary.

Vank Cathedral in Isfahan today is referred to as the greatest museum of Isfahan. The library of this collection is one of the most important centers of Armenology in the world, with historical documents gathered over four hundred years so do not forget to visit here on your Iran tour.

Vank Cathedral history

During the reign of Shah Abbas I, the lands of Tabriz to the Caucasus were occupied by the Ottomans, and Shah Abbas moved to Yerevan with his big army for their liberation. After reaching Yerevan, he succeeded in conquering the land.

He didn’t want to fight with the enemies, so after leaving Yerevan, he ordered his army to destroy all the cities and villages along their way to the borders of Iran and move their residents with themselves to prevent the rapid pursuit of the Ottoman troops because he knew that they would not be merciful to anyone.

Anyone who stood against them or was not able to accompany them would have to face death. Thus, most of the towns and villages of the Armenian Ararat plain were demolished and Armenians were driven to Iran.

After crossing the Aras river, from three hundred and fifty thousand Armenians, 300,000 of them sank in the river, but the rest were rescued from the armies. They came to Isfahan and after about fifty years of settling in this city under the command of Shah Abbas II, they transferred their place of residence to the south of the Zayanderud and created new neighborhoods.

After a while, Armenians who were forced to move from their ancestral lands to Isfahan spoke about returning to their home country, but Shah Abbas was reluctant to return to protect his interests and implement the programs he was in.

Why king of Iran needed to keep Armenians?

King of Iran needed a politically ambitious policy, which, on the one hand, required the Armenians to stay in Iran and, on the other hand, to prevent religious differences, because in the early seventeenth century Armenians of Isfahan were the only Christians who had a direct connection with the Muslims. And the occurrence of religious differences among them was inevitable.

These were the reasons why Shah Abbas kept them in Iran by giving concessions to the Armenians, including allowing them to build churches. They were deployed in Jolfa, Isfahan, and sought to build their social facilities and religious buildings.

Vank Cathedral architecture

The construction of the Vank Cathedral in Isfahan began in 1605 and lasted until 1655. Initially, the church was very small, and at the same time as building Vank, another small church was built in the southwestern part of the neighborhood so that Christians could access their places of worship.

All of the churches in Isfahan are built by Armenian architects, but the remarkable thing about them is that there are no similarities between them and the churches of Armenia or even the churches of East and West Azerbaijan.

Armenian artists found a way to build their religious buildings in Iranian architectural style, with the appearance of mosques, and using the artistic heritage of their land and the influence of Iranian art, created many spectacular works, including the construction of churches and luxurious mansions. Whose specimen is not found anywhere in the world?

The different architecture of this church

Other conditions, such as climate and materials, also have an impact on the design of the buildings of the churches in Isfahan and have given them different faces. These new ways of making the church have made the churches of Isfahan, and especially the Vank Cathedral in Isfahan, different from other churches.

Vank Cathedral paintings

What makes viewers of Vank cathedral in Isfahan more surprised, is that they are enclosed in a bunch of colors and roles in the space of the church, because all the walls, vault, dome, and all corners of the church are painted with oil paints Found.

Most of these paintings depict themes of the Holy Gospel. In the part of the church, images of the birth to the ascension of Jesus Christ are seen on them, and on the part of the walls, some paintings show the Day of Judgment, Paradise, and Hell.

On the northern wall inside the Vank Cathedral in Isfahan, there are resurrection images, on top of which there is Paradise, the entrance of the Deliverers, and in the lower part of hell with fears of fire, a few dragons and dams of Rome, angels who pour out sinners into the hole.

Last Word

Vank Cathedral, nestled in Isfahan's heart, stands as a testament to Iran's cultural mosaic. The vibrant frescoes and intricate architecture narrate tales of resilience and artistic brilliance. Visiting this sacred space not only offers a glimpse into Armenian history but also invites travelers to appreciate the harmonious blend of faith and artistry that defines the spirit of Iran. Vank Cathedral is a poignant expression of the nation's cultural richness.