YEREVAN. – The search for a medieval Armenian church on the shores of Lake Issyk Kul, in Kyrgyzstan, has been postponed until next year.

Ayas Club President Karen Balayan told the aforesaid to Armenian News-NEWS.am.  

The expedition was scheduled to start work in September of this year, and its initiator is renowned Russian survivalist, traveler and yacht captain Fyodor Konyukhov.

As per Balayan, the expedition is postponed due to Konyukhov’s very hectic schedule and his preparations to cross the Pacific Ocean.

“[But] I think it is even better that the expedition is postponed; this will enable them to better prepare and to include more scholars,” Balayan said. 

He added that the number of scholars, who believe that the monastery might not actually be located where they are searching, has increased in recent years.

The main source for the expedition is a 1375 Catalan map, where the monastery is depicted at the southern part of the lake. 

Karen Balayan, on the other hand, believes that it should be sought at the other shore of the lake.