Akdamar IslandThe famous island of Lake Van with the Akdamar Church and the legend of Akdamar (Ah Tamar). You can't go to Van and not go to Akdamar Island! This article, which is an Akdamar travel guide, which includes information about Akdamar Island, Akdamar Church, Akdamar legend, how to get to Akdamar Island and much more, will be very useful for you, enjoyable reading!
What You Will Find In This Article
About Akdamar Island
Akdamar Island is the second largest and, of course, the most popular of the four islands on Lake Van. Akdamar Church on Akdamar Island and the Tamar Legend, which gave the island its name, have made the island a popular travel destination.
Akdamar Island is located within the borders of Gevaş district of Van. The total coastal length of the island is 3 meters, and the highest point is 1912 meters above sea level. So higher than many hills.
Apart from Akdamar Church, there is also a small cafeteria on Akdamar Island. You can drink your tea and coffee here. Souvenirs are also sold at the same place. If you want to keep a souvenir from Akdamar Island, you can buy it.
There is also an observation point at the south end of the island, and when you look at the island from a point that has an angle towards the coast, you can see both the Akdamar Church and the summit of the island. You can come to the island just to watch the scenery.
Where is Akdamar Island?
Akdamar Island is located in the part of Lake Van, close to the city of Gevaş. Gevaş Pier is approximately 45 kilometers from Van city center. If you are traveling by your own vehicle, it is 40 minutes, if you are traveling by minibus or buses, it is approximately 1 hour away.
Right across from Akdamar Island, Artos Mountain is located. The view of Akdamar from Artos Mountain and Artos Mountain from Akdamar Island is unbelievable if the weather is clear.
How to go to Akdamar Island?
Akdamar Island transportation options vary depending on the direction from which you come to Akdamar Island and the season. It is possible to reach the island by direct ferryboat from the center of Van and by motorboat from Gevaş pier.
Transportation from Van Edremit Pier to Akdamar Island
From the Edremit Marina pier, which is close to the center of Van, to Akdamar Island between April and October. only weekends sea bus is running. The cost of sea buses with a capacity of 70 people was 2018 TL in 12. Sea buses, which are a very economical and practical solution compared to other options, unfortunately do not provide service during the winter months. They started to serve on April 2018 in 14.
Sea Bus Times Between Van and Akdamar:
Departure times valid for 2018: Departure to Akdamar Island at weekends: 10:30, 12:00 and 14.00:13, and return from Akdamar Island to Edremit Pier between 00:15, 30:17 and 00:XNUMX.
It was not yet clear when it would start to serve in the period I went for 2019. Before you go, you can check the announcements on the Van Metropolitan Municipality website.
Transportation from Gevaş Pier to Akdamar Island
It doesn't matter from Van or Tatvan direction, if you come to Gevaş pier, there are irregular motor trips from here all day long. The reason why I say irregular is if the number of people is less than 10 people, the engine does not start, they wait for the number of people to be completed to 10. It might not be a problem during the peak season, but if you go during the low season, you can find yourself a travel companion if you go between 12:00-14:00 when the visit is the busiest. We met with a sweet group of students, even though it was February, we were able to get on the motorbike without waiting too long.
If you are coming to Gevaş Pier from the center of Van, it is sufficient to go to the Van bus station and take any minibus or bus going in the direction of Tatvan. When you say you are going to Akdamar Island, they leave you in front of the Grand Deniz Restaurant, where the motor pier is located. We came from Van bus station by minibus, the minibus cost was 7 TL per person. There were also minibuses departing from the city center without going to the Van bus station, but now they also take you to the bus station and depart from the bus station. It takes about 1 hour to reach Gevaş pier from Van.
If you are coming from the direction of Tatvan, the distance is a little longer there, it took us two hours to return to Tatvan. The engine captain of the Best Van company made us wait for us, but they charged 30 TL per person for the two-hour journey, I think we were a bit screwed there.
To go from Gevaş Pier to Akdamar Island, the motorbike took 20TL per person from us. Maybe the price is more affordable when it is crowded. This fee is both a round trip fee, you pay only once. It takes 20-25 minutes to get to the island from Gevaş pier. We stayed on the island for about 1,5 hours. The engine captain announces the return time as it descends.
When you reach the main road in front of the pier to return to Van or Tatvan, you can stop many large and small vehicles or hitchhike.
Akdamar Island Entrance Fee 2019
Since Akdamar Island is in the status of a historical site, there is an entrance fee to the island. Akdamar Island entrance fee of 15 TL for adults. If you have a Museum Card, you can enter for free.
Judging by the sign at the entrance to Akdamar Island, the entrance fee seems to change frequently. Check the latest information while you're there, though.
Akdamar Island Visiting Hours
If you can find transportation to the island (as long as the engine starts), Akdamar Island is open to visitors between 08:00 in the morning and 19:00 in the evening. In the evening, a motor comes for the officials working on the island, then they close the island and leave.
Akdamar Legend | Oh the Legend of Tamar
Once upon a time there was a high priest/monk who lived on Akdamar Island. Legend has it that the monk had a daughter named Tamar, and her beauty was legendary. A young shepherd here and Tamar fell in love with each other.
The young shepherd did not live on the island, he swam to the island every night to see Tamar. The beautiful Tamar was waiting for the shepherd with a lantern in the dark to show his place at night. The shepherd was following the lantern light to find Tamar.
Come and go, the abbot becomes aware of this love. She would not consent to her daughter's love affair with a shepherd. On a stormy night, he takes the lantern and goes down to the shore. But he is constantly changing places, the shepherd can't stand the stormy waters any longer, his last words are "Ah Tamar" before he sinks into the dark waters. Hearing the shepherd's cry, Tamar leaves herself to the waters of Lake Van, and the two lovers die together.
From that day on, the name of the island is known as Ah Tamar. Although it has changed to Ah Tamara and Akdamar over time, it still carries the memory of Tamar and her love….
Akdamar Church
Akdamar Church was established in the southeast of Akdamar Island, that is, on the flatter part. The church was built by the Monk Manuel between 915-921 by the Vaspurakan King Gagik I (Armenian King) in the name of the Holy Cross.
The purpose of the church; It is thought to house a part of the Genuine Cross, which is rumored to have been brought to the Van region in the 7th century after it was smuggled from Jerusalem to Iran.
The chapel to the northeast of the church was built in 1296-1336; The church entrance (jamatun) to the west was dated 1763; The bell tower to the south was added at the end of the 18th century. The construction date of the chapel to the north of the church is unknown.
The building, which was a palace church when it was first built, is considered one of the most beautiful works of Armenian architectural art. It is said that Armenian King Gagik brought architects and masters from all surrounding civilizations to build this church.
When the Vaspuran Kingdom disappeared in 1021, the church was converted into a monastery church. After it was converted into a monastery, it was called the Church of the Holy Cross.
Akdamar Church was put into service as a Memorial Museum as a result of the restoration it underwent in 2007. Armenian architect Zakariya Mildanoğlu carried out the restaurant works. Since the church has the status of a museum today, worship is not allowed except with special permissions.
Akdamar Church Figures
Akdamar Church draws attention with its rich interior and exterior decorations.
On the exterior of the church, there are various subjects of different heights and in reliefs that circulate the building in belts.
In the first generation from the bottom, the subjects taken from the Bible and the Torah are explained. Among the religious subjects, people related to Armenian history, princes, kings and saints are seen.
In addition to religious subjects, worldly subjects, palace life, hunting scenes, human and animal figures are depicted. In these reliefs, it is possible to see the effects of the 9th and 10th century Abbasid Art, which carries the intense effects of Central Asian Turkish art.
It is possible to follow the explanations about the exterior decorations of the church from the signs in the church garden, it was very useful to have such explanations.
It is worth noting that the church is rich in interior decorations as well as exterior decorations. Although some of them are not lost, the frescoes made with madder are the richest church decorations of this region.
Akdamar Church Holy Cross Feast Rite
If you remember, I said that Akdamar Island and the church are not open to worship since they have the status of a museum, but there is an exception to this situation.
Every year, on a Sunday in September, Armenian Churches hold the Feast of the Holy Cross to commemorate the “re-glorification of the Cross,” that is, the return of the cross on which Jesus Christ was crucified to Jerusalem.
In 2010, after 95 years, a service was held in Akdamar Church. After the ceremony, which was repeated in 2011, it continued intermittently for security reasons. After a 3-year hiatus, the ceremony was held again in 2018.
When I talked to the employees on the island, I was informed that although there was no official ceremony, Armenian and Christian citizens came to the island and prayed outside the church at that time.
I tried to convey everything I learned about Akdamar Island and Akdamar Church in all details, I hope it was useful.
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