MÛŞ - The historical Kepenek Church in the Kepenek (Arak) village of Mûş, popularly known as the "Arak Monastery", has been abandoned to its fate despite its hundreds of years of history. The building, which was used as a centre of worship, education and social life in the past, is now used as a barn by the villagers. 

 

The church, which bears Roman and Sassanid traces, has witnessed many civilisations throughout history. However, neither the state nor the local authorities have made any effort to preserve this historical building until today.

 

CHURCH TURNED INTO A BARN

 

Located in the village centre and reflecting the architectural features of the Roman period, the building was built by Roman masters during the Sassanid period according to researches. The walls of the church, which has a rectangular plan built with rubble stones, were demolished over time and the entrance door was completely destroyed. Since the west façade was blocked by a house, the entrance is provided through a door opened later in the north.

 

The interior of the church is covered with a round barrel vault and supported by wall piers in the north-south direction and stone arches. The semicircular apse on the east façade bears the traces of the architectural elegance of the past, but today it stands only with ruins. The crenellated window in the apse indicates the need for light. There is no ornamentation left inside the building. The walls, which are understood from the traces of plaster plaster, collapsed over time and were largely destroyed due to lack of maintenance.

 

HISTORY IS DISAPPEARING

 

The site of the church is located in the village of Kepenek in the centre of Mûş, in the village centre, on parcels numbered 122, plots 2 and 3.

 

The current state of Kepenek Church reveals how not only the stone walls but also the cultural memory of the people have been ignored. With this structure decaying day by day, traces of the history of the region are silently disappearing.

 

MA / Ruken Polat-Ozlem Yacan