Arak Monastery (Surp Arak'elots Monastery) The Surp Arakelots Monastery, also referred to as the Arak Monastery, is situated in the eastern part of Mus Province in present-day Turkey. The monastery shares its name with a nearby inhabited settlement. Surrounded by a tall enclosing wall, the monastery complex features a grand domed church, two adjoining chapels, and several monastic living quarters. Along the southern wall lies an additional cluster of buildings and a natural pool of fresh water open to the air. The main building of the monastery, the Surp Arak'elots Church, is uniquely constructed using brick instead of the more traditional stone typical of Armenian sacred architecture. It follows an uncommon cross-in-square layout, featuring small chambers at each of the four corners. Experts continue to debate whether Byzantine architectural styles influenced the brick design. The structure is believed to have been built between the 10th and 13th centuries, with a possible major restoration after an earthquake in the 1660s. Although the dome and its octagonal drum remained standing until 1960, they were later lost. The Arak'elots Monastery is renowned for preserving two important treasures. In 1205, it acquired a richly decorated homiliary—a collection of sermons created around 1200—which became its most cherished artifact. During the Armenian Genocide, two brave women saved the manuscript by splitting it in two: one part was hidden at an Armenian church in Erzurum, while the other was transported to safety in Russian Armenia. This homiliary is now considered the largest known surviving Armenian manuscript. If you have any questions or would like more information about the Arak Monastery (Surp Arak'elots Monastery), feel free to reach out to us at [email protected] or simply contact us via WhatsApp. We’ll get back to you promptly.