Yet another one of the famous Armenian churches in Turkey, and which was closed for visitors until recently, has been “captured” by the photo camera of Armenian News-NEWS.am.

Quite a few Armenian churches secretly “survive” in Turkey’s several eastern regions, which are far away from the tourist destinations and had long been at the center of the clashes between the Kurdish militants and the Turkish government troops.

One such church is Van’s Zoradir (Soradir) Holy Etchmiadzin Church, which is believed to have been built in the 7th century.  

The shrine of the Armenian Artsruni dynasty also was located in the area of the church, and this church is the prototype of the Surp Khach (Holy Cross) Church of Akhtamar Island on Lake Van.