Saint Stephanos Church (Muradiye)

 church, christianity, monastery, Armenian Apostolic church

Surb Step'anos of Berkri was a functioning monastery of Armenian Apostolic church also educational center in Arberani (later Berkri) district of Armenia's Vaspurakan province (later van province of Ottoman Empire). During the Armenian genocide the monastery was plundered by Turks, but remain standing. After the Armenian genocide Turkish authorities inflate the rumour allegedly reach Armenians hid their jewerly under the walls of it. Tresure hunters dug everything inside and around causing damage to the building (one of the prevalent types of destruction of Armenian monasteries left at territory of modern Turkey by Armenians after the genocide) . Now Turks earn lots of cash by this "lucky" Armenian church that serve as piligrimage center for Armenians visiting their Lost Homeland only as guests...