Arak Church

The Arak Monastery (Arak Manastırı) was built on the eastern side of a peak of the Karaçavuş Mountains. Arak (Kepenek) Village, having given its name to the monastery, is located at the foot of the peak. The word arak means wine in Persian, which suggests that grapes were stored in the village and the production of grape juice took place. Built on a wide plain, the monastery features a large Bell Tower, about 200-250 meters from the structure. The monastery’s Roman style workmanship and building materials are a standout. Rumor has it that, in the region, which witnessed the Roman-Sassanid struggle and remained under Sassanid rule for 400 years (CE 226-624), Sassanids hired Roman architects and craftsmen to build this monastery as a gesture of goodwill and strength and granted it to the Romans as a present.