Surp Giragos Armenian Church
Surp Giragos Ermeni Kilisesi
Said to be the largest Armenian church in the Middle East. Having suffered damage and restoration over the years, its seven altars and soaring arcades bear witness to the history of the city's Armenian community.
The church's origins date back to the 16th century, and the surviving main structure was rebuilt in the 1880s. It is grand in scale and has seven altars. After 1915 it was left abandoned for a long time, and its bell tower was demolished. In 2011, the community raised funds to restore it, and services resumed, making it a symbol of Armenian cultural revival in Turkey. It was damaged again and expropriated during the 2015–2016 clashes in the Sur district, and it has since undergone repairs. Opening hours are not fixed, so check with locals first. Nearby are the Chaldean Mar Petyun Church and the Syriac Orthodox Virgin Mary Church, where you can learn more about the city's diverse religious history.
Opening hours
Hours vary; check on site
Nearby sights
- Mar Petyun Chaldean Church
- Four-Legged Minaret
- Hasan Paşa Hanı
- Fatih Pasha (Kurşunlu) Mosque
- Great Mosque of Diyarbakır
- Cahit Sıtkı Tarancı Museum
- Hazreti Süleyman Mosque
- Dengbêj House