The Vank Cathedral, Isfahan

The Vank Cathedral, Isfahan

The Vank Cathedral
The Vank Cathedral, also called San Salvador and the " Church of the Holy Sisters ", is a cathedral in Isfahan, Iran. Vank means "monastery" or "convent" in the Armenian language.
From the time of the Achaemenids (550 BC -.331 BC), Isfahan was one of the cities preferred by the kings, and in the 5th century BC they turned it into one of their summer residences.

The outside of the Vank Cathedral seems to be a very simple building with simple decoration. Armenia was perhaps a source of Romanesque art. In addition, this country continues the construction of small churches with central dome.
When you step inside the the Vank , it is impossible to remain unmoved. The magnitude of the interior decoration makes all the visitors hypnotized. Among the many beautiful sites that you see in Isfahan like Naghshe Jahan square and Khaju bridge, the Vank Cathedral is the place that impresses you the most. It is the most important Christian temple in Iran and the most beautiful we could contemplate.

Christian decoration and motifs overwhelm the visitors as soon as the small door is crossed. The real love for the city was especially shown with the Safavid king, Shah Abbas (1587-1629), when many works of artistic and historical flavor were hired to build such masterpieces in Isfahan. Travelers from distant regions described Isfahan as the most prosperous and modern city in the world with about one million inhabitants.
The Vank Cathedral is the most important Armenian church in the whole country. The style of the Vank Cathedral is a mixture of Iranian art and Italian Renaissance art. In addition to the temple, the Vank cathedral complex consists of a museum, offices and the house of the archbishop of Isfahan. The well-detailed paintings and murals cover all interior walls and dome of the Christian temple of Isfahan and the art is elevated to its maximum expression! The history of Christianity is explained by the paintings and the scenic effectiveness on the walls of the Vank Cathedral. Mural painting only exists in a fragmentary way, with depictions of scenes from the Old Testament and the saints, with bright colors and is masterfully interpreted.

However The Vank Cathedral is open to public and visitors are welcomed to see this masterpiece, the ordinary affairs of the christian people living in Isfahan is done in the churche.

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