Qara-Kelissa
Encyclopedia
The Saint Thaddeus Monastery ( - Sourb Tadeos Vank; Azerbaijani
and -In persian Sertivier keliseh, meaning "the heart of iran church"), also known as Kara Kilise , is an ancient Armenian
monastery located in the mountainous area of Iran
's West Azarbaijan Province
, about 20 km from the town of Maku.
The monastery is visible from a distance because of the massiveness of the church, strongly characterized by the polygonal drums and conical roofs of its two domes. There are several chapels nearby: three on the hills east of the stream, one approximately 3km south of the monastery on the road to Bastam, and another that serves as the church for the village of Ghara-Kilise.
, also known as Saint Jude, (not to be confused with Judas Iscariot
), was martyred while spreading the Gospel. He is revered as an apostle of the Armenian Church. Legend has it that a church dedicated to him was first built on the present site in AD 68.
Not much appears to remain of the original church, which was extensively rebuilt in 1329 after an earthquake damaged the structure in 1319. Nevertheless, some of the parts surrounding the altar apse
date from the 10th century.
Most of the present structure dates from the early 19th century when Qajar prince Abbas Mirza
helped in renovations and repairs. The 19th century additions are from carved sandstone. The earliest parts are of black and white stone, hence its Turkish name Kara Kilise, the Black Church.
A fortified wall surrounds the church and its now-abandoned monastery buildings.
In July 2008, the St. Thaddeus monastery was added to UNESCO's World Heritage List, along with two other Armenian monuments located in the same province: Saint Stepanos Monastery and the chapel of Dzordzor.
traveled through Armenia in AD 45 to preach the word of God. Many people were converted and numerous secret Christian communities were established there.
Around that time, Abgar died after ruling for 38 years and the Armenian kingdom was split into two parts. His son Ananun crowned himself in Edessa
, while his nephew Sanatruk
ruled in Armenia
. About AD 66, Ananun gave the order to kill St. Thaddeus in Edessa. The king's daughter Sandokht, who had converted to Christianity, was martyred with Thaddeus. Her tomb is located near the Ghara Kelisa.
Azerbaijani language
Azerbaijani or Azeri or Torki is a language belonging to the Turkic language family, spoken in southwestern Asia by the Azerbaijani people, primarily in Azerbaijan and northwestern Iran...
and -In persian Sertivier keliseh, meaning "the heart of iran church"), also known as Kara Kilise , is an ancient Armenian
Armenians
Armenian people or Armenians are a nation and ethnic group native to the Armenian Highland.The largest concentration is in Armenia having a nearly-homogeneous population with 97.9% or 3,145,354 being ethnic Armenian....
monastery located in the mountainous area of Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
's West Azarbaijan Province
West Azarbaijan Province
West Azerbaijan Province or West Azarbaijan Province , is one of the 31 provinces of Iran. It is located in the North West of the country, bordering Turkey, Iraq and Nakhchivan, and the provinces of East Azerbaijan, Zanjan and Kurdistan....
, about 20 km from the town of Maku.
The monastery is visible from a distance because of the massiveness of the church, strongly characterized by the polygonal drums and conical roofs of its two domes. There are several chapels nearby: three on the hills east of the stream, one approximately 3km south of the monastery on the road to Bastam, and another that serves as the church for the village of Ghara-Kilise.
History and architecture
One of the 12 Apostles, St. ThaddeusSaint Jude
Jude was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus. He is generally identified with Thaddeus, and is also variously called Jude of James, Jude Thaddaeus, Judas Thaddaeus or Lebbaeus...
, also known as Saint Jude, (not to be confused with Judas Iscariot
Judas Iscariot
Judas Iscariot was, according to the New Testament, one of the twelve disciples of Jesus. He is best known for his betrayal of Jesus to the hands of the chief priests for 30 pieces of silver.-Etymology:...
), was martyred while spreading the Gospel. He is revered as an apostle of the Armenian Church. Legend has it that a church dedicated to him was first built on the present site in AD 68.
Not much appears to remain of the original church, which was extensively rebuilt in 1329 after an earthquake damaged the structure in 1319. Nevertheless, some of the parts surrounding the altar apse
Apse
In architecture, the apse is a semicircular recess covered with a hemispherical vault or semi-dome...
date from the 10th century.
Most of the present structure dates from the early 19th century when Qajar prince Abbas Mirza
Abbas Mirza
Prince, Field-Marshal Abbas Mirza born Amol city , was a Qajar crown prince of Persia. He developed a reputation as a military commander during wars with Russia and the Ottoman Empire, as an early modernizer of Persia's armed forces and institutions, and for his death before his father, Fath Ali...
helped in renovations and repairs. The 19th century additions are from carved sandstone. The earliest parts are of black and white stone, hence its Turkish name Kara Kilise, the Black Church.
A fortified wall surrounds the church and its now-abandoned monastery buildings.
In July 2008, the St. Thaddeus monastery was added to UNESCO's World Heritage List, along with two other Armenian monuments located in the same province: Saint Stepanos Monastery and the chapel of Dzordzor.
Gallery
Apostles Thaddeus and Bartholomew
The Apostles Thaddeus and BartholomewBartholomew
Bartholomew was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus, and is usually identified as Nathaniel . He was introduced to Christ through St. Philip, another of the twelve apostles as per , where the name Nathaniel first appears. He is also mentioned as “Nathaniel of Cana in Galilee” in...
traveled through Armenia in AD 45 to preach the word of God. Many people were converted and numerous secret Christian communities were established there.
Around that time, Abgar died after ruling for 38 years and the Armenian kingdom was split into two parts. His son Ananun crowned himself in Edessa
Edessa, Mesopotamia
Edessa is the Greek name of an Aramaic town in northern Mesopotamia, as refounded by Seleucus I Nicator. For the modern history of the city, see Şanlıurfa.-Names:...
, while his nephew Sanatruk
Sanatruk
Sanatruk |Latinized]] as Sanatruces) was a member of the Arshakuni Dynasty who may have succeeded Tiridates I of Armenia as King of Armenia at the end of the 1st century. He was also King of Osroene , a historic kingdom located in Mesopotamia. Little or no information is available from either...
ruled in Armenia
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
. About AD 66, Ananun gave the order to kill St. Thaddeus in Edessa. The king's daughter Sandokht, who had converted to Christianity, was martyred with Thaddeus. Her tomb is located near the Ghara Kelisa.
Services
It only has one service a year, on the Day of St. Thaddeus (near July first), which is attended by Armenian pilgrims from all over Iran and other countries.Nearby medieval Armenian monasteries in Vaspurakan
- Saint Bartholomew MonasterySaint Bartholomew MonasteryThe Saint Bartholomew Monastery is a 13th-18th century Armenian monastery built in what was then the Vaspurakan Province of Greater Armenia, now near the town of Başkale in the Van Province of southeastern Turkey...
, a 13th century Armenian monastery (about 110 km south-southwest in Turkey) that was built at the site of the martyrdom of Saint Bartholomew, another Armenian patron saint - Saint Stepanos Monastery, an Armenian monastery about 82 km west in the Araks RiverAraks RiverThe Aras , is a river located in and along the countries of Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Iran. Its total length is...
valley
External links
- UNESCO World Heritage: Armenian Monastic Ensembles of Iran
- Thaddeus Monastery at Armeniapedia
- St Thaddeus at Armenica.org
- Armenian Architecture studies
- Hamid-Rezā Hosseini, Sound of the Ancient Bell (Avā-ye Nāghus-e Kohan - آواى ناقوس کهن), in Persian, Jadid Online, October 31, 2008, http://www.jadidonline.com/story/31102008/frnk/iran_qara_church.
A shorter English version: Iran's World Heritage Monastery, Jadid Online, December 25, 2008: http://www.jadidonline.com/story/25122008/frnk/iran_qara_church_eng.
Slide show (with English subtitles): http://www.jadidonline.com/images/stories/flash_multimedia/Iran_qara_church_eng_test/qara_high.html (5 min 41 sec).