Armenian basilica of Surb Yerrordutyun (Digor)

 place with historical importance, archeological site, interesting place, Armenian Apostolic church, historic ruins

Tekori Surb Yerrordutyun (in Armenian means: St. Trinity of Tekor) was Armenian basilica. After Armenian population ok Kars province was expelled in 1920 by Turks, this site fall under control of Turkish army. In 1966 the Turkish military bace was relocated and Surb Yerrordutyun basilica was blown up using explosives placed inside, alike to another Armenian monastery of Khtzkonk that is about 3 km. west to this place.

The Surb Yerrordutyun (in Armenian means: St. Trinity of Tekor) was a 5th-century Armenian church built in historical Armenia. It was located facing the town of Digor in the Kars Province of Turkey, about 16 kilometers west of the Armenian border. Tekor was a three aisled basilica with a dome. It was severely damaged by earthquakes in 1912 and 1936, and later damaged by vandalism. In 1966 the Turkish military bace was relocated and Surb Yerrordutyun basilica was blown up using explosives placed inside, alike to another Armenian monastery of Khtzkonk that is about 3 km. west to this place. Now only the lower parts of the rubble and concrete core of the walls remain, the facing stone apparently removed to build the town hall (now itself demolished) in the 1960s. The inscription dating the building to the 480s was the oldest known writing in the Armenian language. The Tekor Basilica is significant in Armenian architectural history because its stone dome was among the earliest to be constructed in Armenia. Until its destruction, Tekor was the oldest extant domed church in Armenia.

Link to VirtualAni.org: virtualani.org/tekor/index.htm