1,700-year-old St. Bartholomew’s Church in Van, Türkiye, awaits visitors

The 1,700-year-old Church of St. Bartholomew, located on the Iranian border of Van’s Baskale district in Türkiye, awaits visitors

The 1,700-year-old St. Bartholomew’s Church, built on a hill overlooking the Great Zap Valley in Albayrak Neighborhood, 23 kilometers (16.78 miles) away from Van’s Baskale district, is an important place of worship for Christians. It is believed to contain the grave of Bartalmay, one of the apostles of Jesus Christ.

Citizens living in the region want the historic church, which treasure hunters recently destroyed, to be restored and opened for tourism.

While the 1,700-year-old St. Bartholomew’s Church in Van, Türkiye, attracts visitors, a recent visit by Cihan Onen, a faculty member at Bitlis Eren University, highlights the need for preservation. Onen, exploring the region’s historical and natural beauty during a holiday, found many areas of the church in ruins. Despite this, Onen encourages visitors to see this significant historical building.

Local resident Yildirim Simsek called the church’s state “destroyed” and urged its restoration to boost tourism.

Source: Newsroom