Historic Armenian Monastery in Turkey’s Van Faces Collapse

The Armenian Varakavank monastery, located in Bakracli village in Turkey’s Van Province, is on the verge of destruction, according to Ermenihaber. Locals call the site the “Seven Churches.”

Varakavank was built in the 7th century in the historical Armenian province of Vaspurakan. It is situated on the slopes of Mount Varaka, in the southeastern part of Van city. The monastery was once the seat of the Archbishop of Van.

Today, most of the original churches no longer exist. Only walls and scattered stones remain. One church is half-preserved, but it too is at risk of collapse. The monastery has never undergone full restoration. Over the years, it has suffered damage from treasure hunters and was seriously affected by the 2011 Van earthquake.

For the past 40 years, the collapsed church has been cared for by local resident Mehmet Coban. Near Varakavank, there is also a mosque. Coban’s father served as the mosque’s religious leader in the 1950s and preached the importance of preserving the Armenian monastery. He noted that the monastery had once been used as a barn, but thanks to his father’s warnings, it did not continue in this way.

“My father wanted this place to be preserved. I have been here for 35-40 years, and for his memory, I cannot leave it,” Coban said. He added that he has passed this responsibility on to his child, saying, “It would be a shame if it remains neglected after my death. I told my child, but they say they will face difficulties due to heavy work obligations.”

Coban maintains the monastery entirely at his own expense. Three of the domes have collapsed, and he has covered them with wood and sheet metal. During winter, he clears the snow himself and fences the monastery grounds with a metal mesh. “Last year, I covered it completely with tarpaulin, but the wind tore it. Every year I spend money from my own pocket,” he said.

Despite repeated appeals to the authorities, Coban has not received support. Various groups from Armenia, Switzerland, the United States, and Russia have expressed willingness to assist voluntarily with preservation efforts. As long as restoration is undertaken, everyone is ready to help, but official processes have not made progress.

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