Vank Church ( Cathedral ) is the name of a church in the Julfa neighborhood of Isfahan. This church is one of the historical churches of the Armenians of Isfahan and was built during the reign of Shah Abbas II.
The Armenians of Isfahan migrated to Isfahan from Yerevan during the reign of Shah Abbas I and following the war between Iran and the Ottoman rule in Yerevan, and settled in the Julfa neighborhood of Isfahan. Armenians then began building churches there.
Vank Church is the largest and most famous church in Iran. This church is also known as “Amnaperkich” in the world and is one of the 13 remaining churches in Julfa, Isfahan since the 17th century. Vank means monastery in Armenian.
Over time, the Vank Church, in addition to maintaining its religious status among the people of Isfahan, especially the Armenians living in the Jolfa neighborhood, also became an administrative place and a center of social events. During the following years, the first printing press in Iran and the Middle East was established in the courtyard of this church.
At the head of the west entrance of Wank Church is an inscription made of azure tiles with gold inscription engraved with the following text:
The construction of Vank Amnaperkich Church began in 1655 during the reign of King Abbas II and the orthodox “Philip” and the leadership of Caliph “David” with the help of the people of Julfa and ended in 1664. The reward for the worship performed in this church will be given to those who are alive or in the past.
The area of Vank Church is 8731 square meters, of which 3857 square meters is the building and the rest of the green space and the Vank Garden.
At the top of the entrance, the bell tower is built on three floors, on the second floor of which is a large clock weighing three hundred kilograms. On the four sides of the tower, four circular clock plates are installed, the diameter of each plate is 104 cm.
Normally, Armenian historical churches are made of stone and their domes are conical, but Vank Church, like Safavid Persian mosques, is made of raw clay and its dome is circular similar to the dome of Bethlehem Church ( Another big Church in Julfa neighborhood ).
All the walls, the arches, the collar of the dome, the inside of the dome and all the corners of the church are painted and decorated with oil paint. Most church murals have biblical themes and depict images from the birth to the ascension of Jesus Christ. On a part of the walls of the church, the pictures of the Day of Judgment and heaven and hell can be seen. The painters of these pictures were all Armenian masters.
This church is unique among Armenian churches in terms of gilding. “Khaje Odik” had a great role in decorating and painting the walls of the church.
Also the building of Vank Church Musume is in the yard of Vank Church.
Vanak Church Address: Isfahan, Jolfa Neighborhood, Nazar Sharghi St., Vanak Church Alley
Visiting hours: Daily from 8:30 to 13:30 and 16 to 18:30
Google map link Of Vank Cathedral
