Sp. Khach Cathedral on island of Akhtamar - The island of Akhtamar served as home to a royal residence, monastery and the Sp. Khach Cathedral. The cathedral dates from the 10th century and was seat to a Catholicosate from the 12th through the 19th century. It was abandoned in 1915. Much has been written about the political motivations behind the Turkish government restoration in 2006, I will not comment on that here. The photographs in the left hand slideshow were taken in August of 1996, before the restoration, while those on the right were taken between 2013 and 2014, after the restoration.

1996

2013/2014