The architect-monk Manuel built the church from 915 to 921 as a palatine church for the kings of Vaspurakan. The article's citation attributes it to King Gagik I Artsruni. Its form follows one developed in Armenia centuries earlier, best shown by the 7th-century Saint Hripsime Church in Echmiadzin.
The interior measures 48.5 by 37.7 feet (14.8 by 11.5 m), and the dome rises 66.9 feet (20.4 m). The pink volcanic tuff carries a citation-needed tag. Raised reliefs on the outer walls show mostly biblical scenes, including Adam and Eve, and the article says interpretations vary.
A restoration ran from May 2005 to July 2006, funded by the Turkish Ministry of Culture. The lead implies a 2006 opening, while the restoration section gives March 29, 2007. It is a secular museum with one permitted service a year.
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