Church of the Holy Redeemer of Ani, Armenian church ruins in Ani, Turkey
The Church of the Holy Redeemer of Ani is a cylindrical building with eight interior apses and a nineteen-sided polygonal foundation. The outer walls display carved inscriptions and ornamental stonework that showcase the skilled craftsmanship of medieval Armenian builders.
A prince commissioned this building in 1035 to house a sacred relic brought from Constantinople. The structure survived for centuries until natural forces caused significant damage in the modern era.
The church stands as a testament to medieval Armenian engineering, incorporating crushed stone and concrete with surface layers of cut stone.
Access is through the Ani archaeological site, which is protected by UNESCO and can be visited with guided tours. The ruins sit in a dry mountainous location, so visitors should bring sun protection and wear sturdy shoes.
A lightning strike in 1930 split the building vertically in two, causing one half to collapse while the other remarkably remained standing. This asymmetrical damage makes the church visually striking and marks a dramatic turning point in its story.
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