Surp Giragos Armenian Church

Surp Giragos Armenian Church is a historic Armenian church located in the Özdemir neighbourhood of the Sur district in Diyarbakır, near Sheikh Matar Mosque place. According to land registry records, this church was used by Orthodox Armenians and is regarded as one of the significant works in Armenian architectural history, holding the title of the largest Armenian church in Middle East.

Surp Giragos Armenian Church (Diyarbakır Governorate)

History

The exact construction date of the church is unknown, but inscriptions indicate it was built between 1515 and 1518. Its name first appears in the travelogue of the Polish Simeon between 1610 and 1615. The church was restored in 1722 by Patriarch Bedros Vartabet and subsequently enlarged and rebuilt in 1729 by Armenian architects Şahin Saruhan and Yarem. However, it was completely destroyed in a major fire on 10 June 1881 and was reconstructed again on the same site in 1883. Nine inscriptions on the church walls have preserved these historical details for the present day.

Building was used for various purposes within time. During the First World World War, it served as a headquarters for German officers and later as a textile warehouse. Until 1960, the church, which had been used for different functions as a military depot, was taken over by the Diyarbakır Armenian Community and restored partially to resume its original religious function. Most recently, with resources provided by the Ministry of Urbanization and Climate Change, it was restored under the supervision of the General Directorate of Foundations and reopened in 2022 in a ceremony attended by the Minister of Tourism. Additionally, it was opened for worship following restoration works completed by the Diyarbakır Metropolitan Municipality at the end of 2011.

Surp Giragos Armenian Church (Diyarbakır Governorate)

Architectural Features

Surp Giragos Armenian Church possesses a monumental architectural design and extends in a east-west orientation. Access to the building is from the west. The church consists of a narthex, naos, women’s gallery, apsis, annexes, and a bell tower that no longer exists. The five-nave, five-apse church is notable for the baptismal sections located on either side of the apses. Of its large structure, five of the columns, arches, and apses have survived to the present day; however, the soil ceiling has collapsed.

The church’s bell tower holds an important place in its history. After the original onion bell tower collapsed due to an earthquake, a new five-storey, Gothic-style tower, 29 metres high, was constructed by an Armenian stone mason. A bell cast by the famous Zilciyan family was installed on this tower, and a 3-metre-tall 24-carat gold cross was placed at its summit. However, this bell tower was destroyed by fire in 1914 and was completely demolished in 1916.

Surp Giragos Armenian Church (Diyarbakır Governorship)

Current Status

Today, Surp Giragos Armenian Church serves as a place of worship where an annual liturgy is held, attended by Armenians residing in Diyarbakır and those coming from various regions of the world. This historic structure, which has undergone three restoration phases over time, continues to exist as an important symbol of Armenian cultural heritage.

Surp Giragos Armenian Church (Diyarbakır Governorship)