On the Van Lake, nowadays Turkey, there’s an island called Ahtamar (white vein, in turkish) on the land where a 10th century armenian church is set. We’re talking about The Armenian Church of Saint Crosse.

Armenia was the first christianized nation in the history (around 300 A.C.) by St. Grigor Enlighter. The Armenians, who consider themeseves as being the followers of the Urartu Kingdom, built the Christian Institution of Church (Apostolic or Gregorian) legitimating the monofisitism, being autonomous in comparison with the Orthodox or Catholic Churches.

Monofisitism = religious dogma which doesn’t accept the dual nature of Jesus Christ, the Human and the Holly one, but only the Divinity.

Where: The Eastern side of Anatolia, the Van Lake, Turkey

What: Christin Church of Saint Crosse

Access by Railway and boat from Turkey

Locate it on Map!