Church of the Holy Redeemer of Ani

The cylindrical structure features eight interior apses, a nineteen-sided exterior polygon base, and inscriptions carved into decorative panels along its walls.

Prince Abulgharib Pahlavuni commissioned the church in 1035 to preserve a fragment of the True Cross obtained during his visit to Constantinople.

The church stands as a testament to medieval Armenian engineering, incorporating crushed stone and concrete with surface layers of cut stone.

Visitors can examine the remaining half of the structure through guided tours of the Ani archaeological site, now protected as a UNESCO World Heritage location.

A lightning strike in 1930 split the church vertically, causing one half to collapse while leaving the other section standing in a precarious state.

Location: Ani

Architectural style: Armenian architecture

Part of: Ani

GPS coordinates: 40.50710,43.57680

Latest update: March 3, 2025 16:54