Surp Sarkis Church, Khoy

🕰️When was it built?

Its exact date is not known, but the building is attributed to the early centuries of Christianity, and major repairs are recorded in the Safavid period. The church was added to Iran's National Heritage List in 1968.

🏛️What was it built for?

The building had a religious use and was built for Christian worship. Naming a church after a saint was a way of linking the place of worship with that saint's memory.

👀What you will see

• The church has a rectangular plan, with the space for worship running along its length.
• Its design is thought to show the influence of Iran's Zoroastrian temples, a feature of its architectural model.
• The present form of the church is tied to the Safavid repairs and is not simply a survival from when it was first built.
• The church stands in Qomsal Square, in the north-west part of Khoy.

💡Something interesting

The church takes its name from Saint Sarkis, who was a Christian missionary. Keep the name of the saint and the history of the building apart: the old name alone does not tell you when the present building was built.

🎒Good to know before you go

• Before you go, check whether you can get inside the church, and respect the religious space during your visit.