Vank Cathedral
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Vank Cathedral, also known as The Church of the Saintly Sisters, is the most visited cathedral in Isfahan, Iran. Vank means "cathedral" in the Armenian language.
The Vank Cathedral was one of the first churches to be established in the city's Jolfa district by Armenian immigrants settled by Shah Abbas I after the Ottoman War of 1603-1605. The varying fortunes and independence of this suburb across the Zayandeh rud River and its eclectic mix of European missionaries, mercenaries and travelers can be traced almost chronologically in the cathedral's combination of building styles and contrasts in its external and internal architectural treatment. Construction is believed to have begun in 1606, and completed with major alterations to design between 1655 and 1664 under the supervision of Archbishop David. The cathedral consists of domed sanctuary much alike a Persian mosque but with the significant addition of a semi-octagonal apse and raised chancel usually seen in western churches. A tile work plaque inscribed in Armenian can be seen by the entrance to the cathedral. The courtyard contains a large freestanding belfry towering over the graves of both Orthodox and Protestant Christians. The cathedral's exteriors are in relatively modern brickwork and are exceptionally plain compared to its elaborately decorated interior with wall paintings and gilded carvings beyond a wainscot of rich tile work. The delicately blue and gold painted central dome depicts the Biblical story of creation of the world and man's expulsion from Eden.
The cathedral today houses a museum, a historic printing press, and a large library invaluable for research in Armenian and medieval European languages and arts. The museum displays 700 handwritten books, the first book printed in Iran, a variety of objects related to Armenian community in Isfahan such as Safavid costumes, tapestries, European paintings brought back by Armenian merchants , embroidery, and other ethnological displays related to Armenian culture and religion. There are several carved stones showing scenes from the Bible outside the museum. The cathedral has greatly influenced the architecture and decorative treatment of many subsequent and smaller Orthodox churches in the entire Persian-Mesopotamian region.
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