Çarpanak Island; It is an island located in the northeastern part of Lake Van, near the Çitören Village of the city of Van. The island stands out as a magnificent island with its white beaches and turquoise water. Çarpanak Island, which was part of a peninsula centuries ago, took its present form with the rise of the water of Lake Van. Çarpanak Island, one of the four big islands in Lake Van, takes on an even more beautiful view in spring with its untouched texture.
You can reach the island by boat from the pier in Çitören Village. The island, which draws attention with its rich biological diversity, can be visited with tours organized by taking precautions for the protection of natural life. On the island is the monastery thought to be dedicated to St. John (Sen Jan). Also known as Ktuts Monastery, only the church part of the building has survived.
History of Çarpanak Island
Çarpanak Island is known as part of a peninsula until about 100 years ago. However, it is thought that as a result of the rapid rise in the water level of Lake Van, it was cut off from the land and turned into an island. The history of the island and the monastery on it dates back to 1414.
Many earthquakes occurred on the island, which was not affected much by wars due to religious structures. An earthquake in 1703 destroyed the monastery to a great extent. However, it was rebuilt by the Bitlisli Kaskaper Usta between 1712-1720. This Armenian monastery was abandoned in 1918 due to the regional turmoil. The building, which has not been under any protection since then, is on the verge of demolition today.
There are also many endemic species on the island that are not found elsewhere in Turkey. For this reason, tourism activities on the island have been limited in order not to spoil the natural life. However, in recent years, some touristic trips to the island have started to be organized for those who want to explore the natural beauties and historical structures of the island.
Monastery on Çarpanak Island
The Ktuts Monastery of Çarpanak Island is one of the structures that preserve the historical and cultural importance of the island. Among other historical buildings on the island, there is another church dedicated to St. John, which is located close to the monastery but has not survived until today. In addition, the ruins of a historical castle located in the southwestern part of the island can be seen. However, there is not enough information about the castle ruins.
The church, which was once built as a large complex with its library, chapels and guesthouses, has survived today. The building, which has a rectangular shape when viewed from the outside, has a cross plan inside. The top of the short arms is covered with a barrel vault and its dome is placed on two pillars. The outer walls of the church, which was built in accordance with the architectural style known as the free cross plan, are covered with simple ornaments.
Unlike the church on Akdamar Island, its interior walls are not decorated with frescoes. In addition, the exterior wall decorations of this church seem rather plain compared to the Akdamar Church. No plaster was used on the interior walls and the crown door of the church was decorated with geometric panels and crosses. There are niches on the north and south walls, and a large window on the east wall. The whole church is made of white, cream and brown pear stone. Black tuff was used for decorative purposes only on its dome. The illumination of the church is provided by eight small windows and the bell tower is supported by two columns. The tower, whose upper parts have been largely destroyed, has lower parts decorated with Ottoman motifs.
Çarpanak Island today
The structures on the island, which has been closed to tourism activities since 2007, have been damaged largely due to oil paint scribbling. It is getting worse day by day due to adverse weather conditions. The island is protected as a protected area, but there is no conservation officer.
In the past, attempts were made to open the island to tourism, but the proposals were rejected on the grounds that the seagulls, which became a breeding center on the island, could be damaged. Among the seagulls brooding on the island floor, there are also species found only here in Turkey. Today, visitors to the island are asked to leave the island simply by visiting the church. The island can be reached in approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes by boat from the pier of the village to which it is attached or from the central pier of Van.
Since most of the ancient road leading to Çarpanak Island was under water, the island was isolated for many years. However, in recent years, due to the effective drought and global climate change, the water level has decreased and most of the ancient road has reappeared. The road between the island and the opposite shore covers a distance of about 1 kilometer.
