The Armenian ‘Holy Virgins’ Monastery in Van is Being Destroyed by Treasure Hunters

The Armenian ‘Holy Virgins’ Monastery located in the Akboyu neighborhood of the Gurpinar district in Van Province, Turkey, has become a target for treasure hunters. This monastery, already damaged by natural disasters numerous times, is now being further destroyed by looters, reports Tert.am.

Mehmet Top, a lecturer at Van's Yüzüncü Yıl University, noted that the monastery suffered significant damage from the 1648 Van earthquake. “Throughout its history, it has been referred to as the ‘Holy Virgins’ Monastery. This monastery is one of the examples of Christian architecture in the region. It is a place where Christians continue their religious education and train their disciples. Of course, men and women were educated separately here. It is known that until the early 20th century, there were 200-300 nuns here,” said the Turkish lecturer.

Handed over to the whims of fate after the Armenian Genocide, this monastery has caught the attention of treasure hunters. Today, only the partially ruined dome and walls remain of the church.