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The Vank Cathedral
description
Vank Cathedral
Vank Cathedral is situated at the center of Isfahan in Jolfa Armenia Quarter. This cathedral was constructed by the order of Shah Abbas II to accommodate
Armenians in Isfahan. The construction project of the Vank started in 1655 and was completed under the supervision of Archbishop David in 1664.
Today, this cathedral has different sections including museum, library, printing house and official buildings. Unlike most of the ancient churches that are built in stone, this church is built in clay. Clay is found abundantly in Isfahan. So, it is considered one of the long-used materials applied in the construction of the old houses.
Vank Cathedral, the Manifestation of Spirituality in Art
The frescoes of the interior hall depict stories from holy bible such as the life story of Jesus, from birthday to ascendance. In addition, the paintings of the northern walls demonstrate Heaven and Hell. Besides holding religious ceremonies, the interior of the church has other utilizations. For example, library is an important part of the church in which historical documents are preserved. Some of these documents are more than 400 years old. That is why Vank Museum is one of the most important Armenian studies centers.
Vank Museum
Vank Museum, built from 1905 to 1906, houses about 800 artifacts belonging to the 16th to 20th centuries. These artifacts include books, manuscripts, metal works, textures, porcelains, wooden works, etc. Some of the objects are donations and have not been collected by a special organization. So, you can find a note about the donator next to every object. This museum displays Armenian manuscripts and the first printed books published in the Safavid era.In addition, some precious paintings drawn by European artists are held in this museum.
This church used to be one of the religious centers of the Armenian community of Iran and India. Currently, it is the residence of the Bishop and Armenian Apostolic Diocese of Isfahan and southern Iran.