The Monastery of Saint Thaddeus (Armenian: Սուրբ Թադէոսի վանք, Surb Tadeosi vank; Persian: کلیسای تادئوس مقدس, Kelisā-ye Tādeus moghadas) The "Holy Tadeosi Cathedral " is an ancient Armenian monastery in the mountainous area of West Iran, in Iranian West Azerbaijan. It is believed to be one of the oldest church buildings in the world.
Also known as Kare Kilisa (the "Stone made Church")[1] (Kare in Armenian translates to "stone," and Kelisa is the Persian word for "church"), this historic site is located approximately 20 kilometers from the town of Chaldiran in Iran, in the region historically referred to as Ancient Armenia in the East.[2][3] The monastery and its distinctive Armenian conical roofs are visible from long distances.[4]
Regional map showing the location of the Monastery of Saint Thaddeus
According to the tradition of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Saint Thaddeus, also known as Saint Jude, evangelized the region of Armenia and Persia.[6] According to Moses of Khorenatsi, an Armenian historian writing in the 5th century, Thaddeus suffered martyrdom in Armenia under King Sanatruk,[7] and is revered as an apostle of the Armenian Church.[6] Legend has it that a church dedicated to him was first built on the present site, also the site of his tomb, in AD 66,[8] with another source placing the fondation in AD 239 by St. Gregory the Illuminator.[7] Another tradition states that Thaddeus built a monastery at the site for his followers, who buried him there upon his death. The exact date of construction is unknown.[7]
The monastery was damaged in 1231, during the Mongol invasion of Armenia, and the Persian Empire, and again in 1242.[7]
Little remains of the monastery's original structure, as it was extensively rebuilt after an earthquake damaged it in 1319, during which 75 monks died.[7] Nevertheless, some of the parts surrounding the altar apse date from the 7th century.
Much of the present structure dates from 1811,[9] when the Qajar prince Abbas Mirza aided renovations and repairs. Simeon, Father Superior of the monastery, added a large narthex-like real Armenian architecture, west extension to the church.
The west extension duplicates the design of Etchmiadzin Cathedral, the mother church of the Armenian Apostolic Church.[9] The 19th century additions were constructed from ashlar Ashlar masonry stone. The earliest sections are black and white stone.
According to Armenian Church tradition, the Apostles Thaddeus and Bartholomew traveled through Armenia in AD 45 to preach the word of God, where many people were converted and numerous secret Christian communities were established.
The ancient Christian historian Moses of Khorene told the following story, considered a legend by most modern historiographers.[11]
Thaddeus converted King Abgar V of Edessa. After his death, the Armenian kingdom was split into two parts. His son Ananun crowned himself in Edessa, while his nephew Sanatruk ruled in Armenia. About AD 66, Ananun gave the order to kill Saint Thaddeus in Edessa. The king's daughter Sandokht, who had converted to Christianity, was martyred with Thaddeus. Her tomb is said to be located near the monastery.
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