Cathedral of the Holy Cross

After undergoing a major makeover in 2005, the Church of the Holy Cross (commonly known as Akdamar Kilesi) was finally open to the public as a museum. Dating back to the 900s, it is one of the only surviving architectural wonders from King Gagik I Artsruni's rule. The structure - a piece of pink volcanic tufa is monk Manuel's renowned architectural works. Over the years, the church withstood a number of controversies, to name a few – the killings of the Aght'amar monks, destruction due to communal violence and even thefts of its valuable possessions. Today the church is managed by the Turkish government, operates as a full-fledged museum and even conducts occasional religious services.