The Vank (The All saviour) Church
At the beginning of the reign of Shah Abbas I in 1588, Persia had almost fallen apart. Uzbeks and Afghans had moved into the North-Eastern lands and Ottomans were attacking the North-West, invading parts of Azerbaijan. It took Shah Abbas 14 years to build an outstanding army to conquer both enemies and take back what was lost of the Persian soil. After his victory, he moved his capital from Qazvin to Esfahan and brought with himself thousands of Christian Armenians from the old Julfa in Azerbaijan.
Esfahan was a known city on the silk road and he was hoping that the new Christian population in Esfahan, with their influential merchants make the Persian ties with Spain and other Western countries stronger, so a monopoly in the silk trade could be achieved and the Persian silk and rugs could be exported through other routes than Turkey. Moreover, the Armenians were excellent craftsmen and they could contribute to the industrial achievements and wellbeing of Esfahan. As another motif, he hoped that this would be a great example of tolerance and understanding among diverse ethnic and religious groups in the region and would encourage the foreign merchants to pass through Iran with peace of mind. Therefore he gave the Southern part of the river to the immigrants so that they could build their parishes and houses upon it, and gave them great freedom, enough finances and equal rights, something extraordinary for that era among lands ruled by Muslims. Immigrants called the new founded quarter of Esfahan the New Julfa and started building churches among other things. Shah Abbass's plan paid off. Esfahan entered its golden era of all time and merchants flooded the city, the showcase of the civilization of the Safavid era.
The Vank Church is the finest church of all in Esfahan. Founded in 1606, it didn't fully develop to today's condition until the time of the reign of Shah Abbas II. The building of the new praying room of the church was begun in 1655 under the supervision of Archbishop David and by donations of Armenians, and was completed in 1664. The clock tower was added in 1931.
Detail of the tile work over the main entrance:
View from the main entrance:
Church and belfry to the left:
The belfry, added in 1702 after the belfry of the original church in Julfa, which was demolished by Ottomans:
The arcade and some of graves:
The Western entrance to the church:
The Eastern view and hallway:
The Northern entrance:
Taking photos is not allowed Inside the praying room. I actually had to buy the CD of the photos they've taken themselves. The illustrations are too gorgeous not to share.
Here is the Altar:
The Illustration of Heaven and Hell:
Various biblical illustrations:
The building of library, built in 1905:
Here is the Museum building, built in 1971. Among its valuable items, there are decrees of Safavid kings for the manner of treating the immigrants. They don't let anyone take photos here as well.
Memorial for the victims of Armenian genocide of 1915 by Ottoman government:
