Ani Cathedral
The Church of the Virgin Mary, called Ani Cathedral, was built in 989 by the architect Trdat, who repaired the dome of Hagia Sophia in Istanbul. The structure, whose dome was destroyed in the 1319 earthquake and became unusable, was damaged in the 1832 earthquake. After the 1988 earthquake, the building was completely in ruins. The cathedral is located in the present-day Ani ruins in Kars.
Strongly emphasizing vertical lines, the 10th-century structure captures an impressive sense of height. There is a large apse inside the 30-meter cathedral. It was built on the plan of the Greek cross and has three entrances, one for the prince, one for the patriarch and the other for the congregation.
