Cathedral of Kars

Holy Apostles Church of Kars Սուրբ Առաքելոց Եկեղեցի
Shown within Turkey
Basic information
Location	Kars, Turkey
Geographic coordinates	40.611336°N 43.091617°E / 40.611336; 43.091617
Affiliation	Armenian Apostolic Church
Status	Mosque
Architectural description
Architectural style	Armenian
Completed	mid-940s

The Holy Apostles Church (Armenian: Սուրբ Առաքելոց Եկեղեցի; also known as the Cathedral of Kars) is a 10th century Armenian church built in what was then Bagratid Armenia, and what is now Kars, Turkey. It was completed in the mid-940s under the rule of the Bagratid Armenian King Abas.

In 1579 the Ottoman Turks converted the church into a mosque. After Russian control of Kars, it was converted to a Russian Orthodox church. In 1918, after the fall of Kars to Turks, the cathedral was again turned into a mosque. In 1919, following the retreat of Turks and during the first republic of Armenia, the cathedral functioned as an Armenian church. In 1920, Kars fell to Turkey and the church no longer functioned. It was again converted to mosque in 1998.

Gallery

• 

  Cathedral of Kars on the Russian postcard.

• 

  The cathedral at the end of the 19th century.

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  View of the cathedral from the fortress (February 2006). The buildings to the left of the cathedral have since been demolished.

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  Panorama of Kars with cathedral in upper left of center (May 2008)

Bibliography

• Kouymjian, Dickran. "Index of Armenian Art: Armenian Architecture - Kars". Armenian Studies Program. California State University, Fresno. http://armenianstudies.csufresno.edu/iaa_architecture/kars.htm. 

External links

• THE CATHEDRAL OF KARS at VirtualAni.org
• 3D model of the Holy Apostles Cathedral