Cathedral of Kars

Hikayemiz

The Cathedral of Kars, also known as the Holy Apostles Church is a former Armenian Apostolic church in Kars, eastern Turkey. Built in the mid-10th century by the Armenian Bagratid King Abas I, it was converted into a mosque in 1579. In the 19th and early 20th century it was converted into a Russian Orthodox and later Armenian cathedral. In 1993 it was again converted into a mosque and is called Kümbet Mosque . It currently comprises part of a larger Islamic complex that includes the Evliya Mosque, the biggest mosque in Kars.OverviewThe cathedral is located at the base of the Kars Citadel.Historians Stepanos Asoghik, Samuel of Ani, and Mxit'ar of Ayrivank called the church a cathedral. In 19th century Armenian sources it began to be known as the Church of Holy Apostles.ArchitectureIt is a central planned domed tetraconch, and imitates the seventh-century Church of Saint John, Mastara. The main entrance of the church is on the western side also has two more gates on the south and north sides. "Its interior plan is reflected in the exterior volumes. Four apses radiate from a central square bay, over which rises a circular dome. Externally, the right angles of the square between the conchs protrude about three meters beyond the sides of the apses; inside they are represented by four dihedral angles each surmounted with a squinch."