The Virgin Mary Monastery, located on the Norduz Plateau in Van’s Gürpınar district, is about to disappear because it has been abandoned to its fate.
A group of nature lovers who are members of Van Vadi Nature Sports Club organized a nature walk to the region where the Virgin Mary Monastery is located. The church ruins on the Norduz Plateau, which has a great potential for nature tourism, host thousands of visitors every year.
Vadi Nature and Sports Club President Ömer Demez said about the historical monastery, which had 365 rooms in the past, but currently has only 17 rooms due to destruction: “We held an event in the Virgin Mary Church, which has the oldest history in the region and consists of 365 rooms. Due to time distortion, 17 of its rooms can now be visited. A unique product. It reaches hundreds of visitors every year. Many naturalists visit this place. “Everyone should come and see this place,” he said.
The Virgin Mary Monastery, built in the 700s on the banks of the Araz Stream, was built with 365 rooms to represent every day of the year. However, only 17 rooms of the monastery remain standing now.
According to historical sources, the building, which was the largest monastery in the region, was destroyed during the Armenian deportation. The surviving parts were damaged by treasure hunters.
Again, according to local sources, the monastery had a large library before it was destroyed, but the library in question was also destroyed.
Serhat News
Translator :Akif Coşkun
