By George Conger, Anglican Ink.
The historic Armenian Cathedral of Ani, also known as Surp Asdvadzadzin (Holy Mother of God), will be converted into a mosque, Turkish state-run media reports. The cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage site located in Kars Province, represents one of the most significant examples of medieval Armenian architecture and the spiritual heart of the former Armenian Kingdom of Ani.
In July 2025, Turkish state-run Anadolu Agency reported that the cathedral would reopen as a mosque after completion of its three-phase restoration project. The restoration is being conducted jointly by Turkey’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the World Monuments Fund, with the second phase expected to be completed in 2025.
Muhammet Arslan, head of excavations at the Ani archaeological site, confirmed that the building would function as a mosque upon completion of restoration work. Turkish officials have consistently referred to the cathedral as the “Fethiye Mosque” (Conquest Mosque), emphasizing its brief conversion to a mosque by Sultan Alp Arslan in 1064 following the Seljuk conquest. Notably, Turkish reports entirely omit the cathedral’s Armenian origins, referring only to its architect Trdat without mentioning his Armenian heritage[4].
The cathedral was constructed between 987-1010 under Armenian King Smbat II and Queen Katramida, with Trdat—the same architect who restored Hagia Sophia’s dome—as its designer. Following the Seljuk conquest in 1064, the cathedral was briefly converted to a mosque but returned to Christian use in 1199 under Georgian-Armenian Zakarid rule. The structure suffered major damage in earthquakes in 1319 and 1988, leading to its current ruined state.