The churches of Gargar/Karkar region which is located in Van Gevaş and Bitlis Hizan districts

This study were studied, Anaköy, Daldere, Töreli Villages, Tatlıca, Beşadım and Doruklu hamlets of Gevaş District of Van and Erdoğan and Baltacı hamlets of Güngörmez Village of Bitlis. Area; It was an administrative disrtict called Gargar / Karkar under Van Sanjak during the Ottoman Empire. Twelve churches were identified in Gargar. Ten of these structures could be examined and Two of them have not survived. This study is considered for the first time in terms of the methodology of Art History and it is important to introduce all the churches in the area to the world of science both in terms of architecture and decoration. The current situation of the churches has been determined by field studies and plan drawings have been realized and supported with visual materials. After this foundation, the churches were introduced. Firstly, their place in Armenian architecture is mentioned. In the evaluation part, the plan type and architecture of single nave churches were emphasized. During the field studies, there were also troubled moments sometimes due to both terrain conditions and security problems. However, the lack of scientific studies about the churches in the region has given importance to the research of the churches in this area with scientific methods. The findings are valuable in determining the plan typology of the churches in Gargar / Karkar. All the churches in the region were built in a single nave plan scheme. The naos sections of the churches, which differ in size, were placed in a rectangular area in the east - west direction and covered with a barrel vault. The structures are quite modest in this state and there is no monumentality. Except for the 1904 repair inscription of Anaköy Noreşan Surp Sarkis Church, no building inscription could be identified to help date. From this point of view, the plan and architectural features of the churches mentioned above were also important in dating. No dome was used on the top cover of any of the structures. All of the structures that survived to the present day have different number of wall niches. These wall niches are located inside the churches. There are no wall niches or slits niches that provide mobility on the façades. The only elements that provide mobility on the facades are the entrances and the window openings. The main holdering element in all churches are body walls. Next to the body walls; wall piers and arch was used. The examined structures are quite simple in terms of decoration. But, there are ornaments on the cross-embroidered stones on the body walls which we think are used as devshirmeh materials. The building materials were mainly rubble and rough stone, as well as rock stone (şist) - leaf stone on the top cover. In only three buildings, a small amount of brick material was used in local places. All these data show that the structures are built for functional purposes without showing off. This relaize that those who build churches built in a local area have insufficient economic power.