Number 43 | June 2, 2008
A millennia-old Georgian church in the eastern Turkish city of Erzurum is about to undergo a major restoration under the auspices of an agreement between the Turkish and Georgian governments.
The Osk Vank Church is regarded as one of the most important historical structures in the eastern Anatolian region and draws thousands of Georgian pilgrims to Erzurum every year. The church was designated as a historical landmark in 1985 by the Turkish Culture and Tourism Ministry.
Located less than 3 miles from the Erzurum-Artvin highway, the Osk Vank Church (Oshki in Georgian) is a magnificent structure. The church’s three chapels, a dining hall and a library building have survived to this day. It is the biggest Georgian church in the region built in a cross shape. According to inscriptions on the walls of the church, it was built by the sons of Georgian King Kuropalat Adarnese, David and Prince Bagrat, between 963-973 and was dedicated to John the Baptist. After the occupation of the region by the Byzantine Empire in 1022, Byzantium emperors Basileos and Constantine XIII restored the church's ruined dome. Historical documents reveal that the church, which was one of the episcopacy centers of the region, was also an important cultural center -- known particularly for its manuscripts -- between the 11th and 15th centuries.
In 2007, Turkey completed the restoration of the ancient Armenian church of Akdamar in Van, another major historical and cultural landmark in eastern Turkey. The Akdamar Church is located on a small island in the same name in the Lake of Van and has attracted thousands of visitors from Armenia and all over the world since its restoration.