Vank Church, Isfahan, Iran
The Vank Cathedral which is located in Isfahan’s Jolfa region is known as a masterpiece of architecture. The construction of this cathedral started at the time of Shah Abbas II in 1606. Vank Cathedral’s architecture is a combination of Iranian and Armenian styles. That is why when you first arrive at this old church, you will see that this cathedral is the only one to be built with indigenous materials like clay and brick.
As soon as you move into the church’s passage and enter the prayer hall, you are faced by the unique collections of beautiful frescos and the magnificent tile works with gild adornments: they depict stories from the holy bible and Tora. Armenian artists painted them during safavid era. The ceiling above the entrance is painted with delicate floral motifs in the style of Persian miniature.
The two-storey museum on the northern part of the courtyard contains exhibits of some of the earliest books ever printed with one of the first printing devices in the Middle East. It also includes carved wooden crosses, old holy books, the smallest scripture in the world and a short piece of hair, measuring only about 0.004-inch-thick, with written words on it in Armenian, which is visible through a microscope.
