Created by George Aghjayan
  Western Armenia
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    • Sp. David of Abrank
    • Bitlis/Mush >
      • Arak church
      • Hamam in Mush
      • Khaskiugh, Mush
      • Sp. Anania of Por
      • Sp. Arakelots vank of Mush
      • Sp. Garabed vank of Mush
      • Sp. Hovhannes vank of Por
      • Sp. Marineh of Mush
    • Cilicia >
      • Nazaretian House in Aintab
      • Sis
      • Sp. Asdvadzadzin of Aintab
      • Sp. Asdvadzadzin of Hajun
      • Sp. Boghos of Tarsus
      • Sp. Hagop vank of Hajun
    • Dersim >
      • Chmshgadzak
      • Halvori vank
      • Sp. Asdvadzadzin of Mazgerd
      • Sp. Asdvadzadzin of Mirnav
      • Sp. Garabed vank of Yergan
      • Sp. Hagop of Mazgerd
      • Sp. Kevork of Kodarij
      • Sp. Yerrortoutiun of Hazari
      • Ruins of Dersim
    • Diyarbekir/Chungush >
      • Sp. Garabed of Adish
      • Sirahayeats Sp. Asdvadzadzin vank
      • Sp. Garabed of Chungush
      • Sp. Lusavorich of Chungush
      • Sp. Giragos of Diyarbekir
      • Sp. Hovsep of Diyarbekir
      • Sp. Prgich of Diyarbekir
      • Sp. Sarkis of Diyarbekir
      • Sp. Khach vank of Satou-kegh
    • Kharpert/Palu >
      • Havav fountains
      • Kaghtsrahayats Sp. Asdvadzadzin vank
      • Khoulavank
      • Sp. Boghos vank of Nubshi
      • Sp. Diramayr of Khoshmat
      • Sp. Garabed of Kharpert
      • Sp. Gatoghige of Havav
      • Sp. Hagop of Kharpert
      • Sp. Krikor Lusavorich of Palu
      • Tadem vank
    • Lake Van Islands >
      • Akhtamar
      • Gdouts
      • Lim
    • Moks >
      • Kisor, Moks
      • Moks Chapel and Cemetery
      • Pasavank
      • Sp. Asdvadzadzin of Moks
      • Sp. Khach vank of Moks
    • Shadakh >
      • Mustafa's Khan
      • Sak chapel
      • Sp. Asdvadzadzin of Junoug
      • Sp. Asdvadzadzin of Shadakh
      • Sp. Digin of Sortikin
      • Sp. Hovhannes Mgrdich of Shadakh
      • Sp. Kevork of Sak
      • Sp. Stepanos of Hishet
      • Sp. Yerrortoutiun of Shadakh
    • Southern Shore of Lake Van >
      • Artemid
      • Garmravank
      • Sp. Asdvadzadzin vank of Ganjak
      • Sp. Garabed vank of Sorp
      • Sp. Haroutiun vank of Deveboynu
      • Sp. Kevork vank of Goms
      • Sp. Tovmas vank of Ganjak
      • Sp. Sahag of Khndzorgin
      • Varents
    • Van City to Iran >
      • Sp. Bartholomew vank
      • Sp. Echmiadzin of Soradir
      • Sp. Marinos vank
      • Van Walled City
      • Varakavank
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    • Turkey’s hidden Armenians search for stolen identity
    • A Personal Journey To Western Armenia
    • Der Manouelian Family - A FAMILY GATHERING
    • Der Manouelian Family - A ‘PALUTSI’ WEDDING
    • Margaret Garabedian Der Manuelian story
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    • Genealogy Articles
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      • Identifying 1.5 Million, One by One
      • Armenian Genealogy Tutorials >
        • Armenian Genealogy - Tutorial 1
        • Armenian Genealogy - Tutorial 2
        • Armenian Genealogy - Tutorial 3
        • Armenian Genealogy - Tutorial 4
        • Armenian Genealogy - Tutorial 5
        • Armenian Genealogy - Tutorial 6
        • Armenian Genealogy - Tutorial 7
        • Armenian Genealogy - Tutorial 8
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  • Links
    • Map Links >
      • Jelle Verheij, historian
      • Ottoman era 1:200,000 scale maps
      • British pre-1918 Military Maps 1:250,000 scale
      • Source on Origins of villages
      • Sevan Nishanyan map
      • 1950's 1:500,000 scale maps
    • Western Armenia Research Center
    • Matthew Karanian's Historic Armenia book
    • Armenian Genocide Reparations Study Group
    • Regional Kinetics - Land Reparations
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NOTE: All photographs were taken by George Aghjayan and any reuse should give accreditation to this website and Mr. Aghjayan.

The Armenian churches photographed only represent a small portion of those that exist. The photographs of churches and other Armenian cultural sites have been taken over a period of almost 20 years although the majority are from numerous trips since 2011. Tragically, many of these sites are under constant duress from looters. The damage done compromises the structures and desecrates what remains of our cultural heritage. In many of the photographs, you will see holes around the pillars and columns as well as throughout the sanctuaries. That there is no gold to be found does not stop the criminals that destroy in their quest. The true gem is the structures themselves and the destruction must stop to ensure future generations will be able to enjoy and, hopefully, one day use these testaments to the Armenian presence on the land of their birth.

My objective is not to supply a full academic treatment of each site, instead I am attempting to continue a timeline of available photographic evidence. I can recommend two sources for further research into the damage that has been done over the years. Jean Thierry was a giant in documenting Armenian monasteries and churches. He wrote extensively in the
Revue des Études Arméniennes and his book "Monuments Arméniens du Vaspurakan" [Paris : Libr. orientaliste Paul Geuthner, 1989] is an indispensable contribution. The other source I wish to mention is a series of hundreds of microfiche in 7 volumes on Armenian architecture published by Renselaer Polytechnic Institute under the leadership of Vazken L. Parsegian. Within these 7 volumes are thousands of photographs, plans, historical summaries and bibliographies. More information on the project as well as scans of some of the photographs can be found at http://www.lib.rpi.edu/dept/library/html/ArmArch/. I am sure there are other important and valuable sources, both on individual sites as well as entire regions, but my intention is not to supply an exhaustive list and these two are excellent places to start for those wishing to do more research as well as to see the changes that have taken place over time.

Below are links to the photographs of the individual sites which can also be accessed through the menu above. On the maps page, you can find a detailed map which includes the exact locations of each of these churches and in some case the satellite imagery is of sufficient resolution to allow for identification of the structure.


Link
Sp. David vank of Abrank
Link
Bitlis/Mush region
Link
Dersim region
Link
Diyarbekir/Chungush region
Link
Kharpert/Palu region
Link
Lake Van Islands
Link
Moks region
Link
Shadakh region
Link
Southern Shore of Lake Van
Link
Van City to Iran border
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