Today, the city lies in ruins, a testament to its turbulent history marked by invasions and eventual abandonment. Its surviving structures, including the Cathedral of Ani, the Church of the Redeemer, and remnants of fortifications, stand as remarkable examples of medieval Armenian architecture and craftsmanship.
Ani’s historical and cultural significance earned it UNESCO World Heritage Site status in 2016. Despite its condition, it remains a poignant symbol of Armenia’s rich heritage and a reminder of the empire’s past glory.
To view the ruins of Ani from Armenia, you must navigate the border, which is guarded by Russian troops and lined with barbed wire, raked sand, and guard towers. To enter the village of Norshen, including for its residents, permission from Russian border guards and Armenian authorities is required.
The most important surviving monuments that can be seen from Norshen(Kharkov) are as follows:
The Church of the Holy Mother of God, constructed under King Smbat II, began in 989 and was completed in 1001 (or 1010, according to an alternate inscription). Designed by the renowned architect Trdat, the cathedral is a domed basilica.Its interior features progressive elements, such as pointed arches and clustered piers, which give it a Gothic appearance, predating Gothic architecture by several centuries.
The Church of St. Gregory of Tigran Honents, completed in 1215, is the best-preserved monument at Ani. Commissioned by the Armenian merchant Tigran Honents during the Zakarid rule, it features a domed hall plan. The church’s exterior is adorned with intricate stone carvings of animals, while its interior showcases unique frescoes depicting the Life of Saint Gregory the Illuminator and the Life of Christ.
The Church of the Holy Redeemer (Surb Prkich), completed around 1035, features a unique design with 19 sides externally and 8 apses internally, topped by a large central dome on a tall drum. Built by Prince Ablgharib Pahlavid, the church was constructed to house a fragment of the True Cross.
The Church of St. Gregory of the Abughamrents, dating from the late 10th century, was built as a private chapel for the Pahlavuni family. Their mausoleum, constructed in 1040, stood against the church’s northern side. The church has a centralized plan with a dome on a drum and features six exedera in the interior.
King Gagik’s Church of St. Gregory, also known as Gagikashen, was built between 1001 and 1005 as a recreation of the famous Zvartnots Cathedral. Designed by the architect Trdat, it closely followed Zvartnots’ layout, with a quatrefoil core and a circular ambulatory. The church collapsed shortly after completion, and houses were later built on its ruins.
The Church of the Holy Apostles, founded by the Pahlavuni family, likely dates from the early 11th century, with the earliest inscription from 1031. It was used by the archbishops of Ani, many of whom were from the Pahlavuni dynasty. The church has an inscribed quatrefoil plan with corner chambers.
At Ani’s southern end, the flat-topped hill known as Midjnaberd (the Inner Fortress) features defensive walls from the 7th century, when the Kamsarakan dynasty ruled. In 1908-1909, Nicholas Marr excavated the hill, revealing the ruins of the Bagratid kings’ palace, along with three churches and several other buildings. The “church of the palace,” dating to the 6th or 7th century, is the oldest surviving church in Ani.
