Holy Archangel monastery of Gamakh

The Holy Archangel [Tasbibi Kilise] monastery sits at *** N and *** E on the outskirts of an old faubourg of Gamakh [Kemah], at the foot of a cliff rising above the right bank of the western Euphrates [Firat]; it faces the town and its citadel – the former Ani fortress – both of which are on the left bank. In ancient times, Ani-Gamakh (not to be confused with Ani, the capital of Bagratid Armenia in the 10^th-11^th centuries) housed the pantheon of the kings of Armenia.

In all likelihood, the semi-rupestrine monastery was of Greek origin but subsequently passed to the Armenians; it is believed to have been founded prior to the 11^th century. In the 19^th century and at the start of the 20^th, it was primarily a pilgrimage site.

The monastery is composed of a church 11 m in length partially set into the rock face, from which it extends outward 5.5 m, and of cells cut into the cliff. The church, built on a semi-free-standing plan, was surmounted by a polygonal drum partially abutting the cliff. It was embellished with paintings on plaster.

The church was left empty and today lies largely in ruins.