Mosque of Sheikh Lutfullah - Esfahan, Iran

Holy Savior Cathedral (Armenian: Սուրբ Ամենափրկիչ Վանք, Surp Amenaprgich Vank; Persian: کلیسای وانک or آمنا پرکیج, Kelisa-ye Vank or Amenapergich; ), also known as Vank Cathedral and The Church of the Saintly Sisters, is a cathedral in Isfahan, Iran. Vank means “cathedral” in Armenian.

Vank Cathedral was one of the first churches to be established in the city’s Jolfa district by Armenian immigrants settled by Shah Abbas I after the Ottoman War of 1603-1605.

The interior is covered with fine paintings and gilded carvings and includes a wainscot of rich tile work. The delicately blue and gold painted central dome depicts the Biblical story of creation of the world and man’s expulsion from Eden. Pendentives throughout the church are painted with a distinctly Armenian motif of a cherub’s head surrounded by folded wings. The ceiling above the entrance is painted with delicate floral motifs in the style of Persian miniature. Two sections, or bands, of murals run around the interior walls: the top section depicts events from the life of Jesus, while the bottom section depicts tortures inflicted upon Armenian martyrs by the Ottoman Empire.

The library contains over 700 handwritten books and many invaluable and unique resources for research in Armenian and medieval European languages and arts. The museum displays numerous artifacts from the history of the cathedral and the Armenian community in Isfahan, including:

• the 1606 edict of Shah Abbas I establishing New Julfa
• several edicts by Abbas I and his successors condemning and prohibiting interference with, or persecution of, Armenians and their property and affairs in New Julfa
• a historic printing press and the first book printed in Iran
• vestments, monstrances, chalices, and other sacramental artifacts
• Safavid costumes, tapestries, European paintings brought back by Armenian merchants, embroidery, and other treasures from the community’s trading heritage
• ethnological displays portraying aspects of Armenian culture and religion
• an extensive display of photographs, maps, and Turkish documents (with translation) related to the 1915 Armenian Genocide in Turkey.

The cathedral has greatly influenced the architecture and decorative treatment of many subsequent and smaller Orthodox churches in the region. (wiki /  Flickr / toshu2011)

Vank Cathedral, Esfahan by damonlynch on Flickr.

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