Faith / Church
Bana Cathedral (Penek Church)
Şenkaya, Erzurum
The remains of a medieval cathedral near the village of Penek, with a quatrefoil plan and a circular outer wall, scene of the coronation and wedding of Georgian Bagrationi kings.
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Its story
The date of the cathedral on the north bank of the Penek (Irlağaç) Stream is debated: some researchers point to the 7th century, while those relying on an 11th-century chronicle indicate that it was built or renovated in the reign of the Georgian king Adarnase IV (881–923). With a quatrefoil (tetraconch) plan surrounded by a polygonal outer ambulatory and a cylindrical drum, the building is known for its resemblance to Zvartnots Cathedral in Armenia. As one of the important churches of the Bagrationi dynasty, it was the scene of the coronation of Bagrat IV in 1027 and of his wedding in 1032. During the Crimean War it was turned into a fortification by the Ottoman army, and it was largely destroyed in the Ottoman-Russian War of 1877–78; today visitors can see the ruined remains.
Key facts
- Period
- 7th–10th century (debated)
- Admission
- Open area
- Getting there
- Şenkaya, near Penek village
- Visit duration
- 30 minutes
Trip purpose
- Photography
- Quiet
Location
40.66829, 42.26998
Reviews
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Source: Web derlemesi (doğrulanmalı): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bana_cathedral | https://tr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bana_Katedrali | https://www.openstreetmap.org/way/183890287