Cathedral of Kars, Cathedral and mosque in Kars Province, Turkey.
The Cathedral of Kars is a stone building constructed in Armenian style with a square plan and four apses radiating outward, topped by a round dome supported by twelve arches. The interior space is organized by these structural elements that define how the building stands and functions.
King Abas I of Armenia built this structure as a cathedral in 930, but after the Seljuk invasion in 1064 it was converted into a mosque. This transformation marked a turning point in how the region's religious spaces were used.
The twelve stone figures of apostles carved into the dome's spandrels come from when the building served as a Christian place of worship. These carvings show how artisans of that time expressed religious beliefs through stonework.
The building can be entered through three doorways located on the western, southern, and northern sides of the structure. This means visitors can approach and enter from different directions depending on where they are coming from.
The building has changed its purpose multiple times over the centuries, serving as a cathedral, mosque, and museum in succession. This shifting history of use reflects the political and religious changes that swept through the region.
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