//
Photo: SUZANNE KHARDALIAN HOLMQUIST, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Abandoned but substantial Armenian monastery, built in the 15th century and rebuilt in 1703 after an earthquake. The causeway has been submerged by rising water levels in the lake, so you take a summer boat trip from Van.
Ktuts monastery is an abandoned 15th century Armenian monastery on the small island of Ktuts (Çarpanak) in Lake Van, Vaspurakan which fell into ruins after the Armenian genocide beginning in 1915. According to tradition, the monastery was founded in the 4th century by Saint Gregory the Illuminator, after his return from Rome. It contained a hand of John the Baptist, which was kept in a reliquary now held at the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem.
© OpenStreetMap contributors
The church of Surp Khach or Holy Cross is the only remnant of a 10th century Armenian palace and monastery complex on Akdamar. It has faded frescoes within and impressive rock-cut reliefs on the exterior. A liturgy is held annually in early Sep before the Feast of the Cross.