YENIKOY SURP ASDVADZADZIN (ASTVAZAZİN) COMPLEX

Abstract

Public improvements started in 18thcentury in Yenikoy were made in compliance with the ethnical origins of the community. Non-Muslims were dominated and Greek and Armenian communities had churches in Yenikoy. Armenian Surp Asdvadzadzin Church and Complex, is a significant one of those churches and it was devoted to the Virgin Mary. The complex was built in the middle of 18th century first and it was reconstructed exactly the same with its current situation in 1834. The complex was formed around a basilica planned church with a single nave in the center. There is a baptism room and a pastaphorion room on the sides of the Church and a small graveyard in the backyard. There is a cistern at the entry of the surrounding walls of the church, and a little bit further located the foundation building. There are fountains is several places. While the parsonage is in the south of the Church, Mamigonyan School, a big part of which could not reach today, is located in the south. Surp Asdvadzadzin Complex is an example of the application of Turkish Islamic social complex in a non-Muslim construction complex. The complex was planned to meet the needs of the surrounding community and today it renders services to the Gregorian Armenians. Thanks to the restoration works performed in 2005- 2006, it is in a very good condition today. Recently restoration works have been started for Mamigonyan School and the parsonage. The written sources about Armenian Surp Asdvadzdzin Complex, which is similar to Turkish Islamic social complexes, are mainly about the church. In this paper, church and other constructions in the complex, which are in integrity from architectural aspects, are discussed under different headings