Surb Karapet Monastery of Mush

The photograph shows the Surb Karapet Monastery of Mush, a medieval Armenian monastic complex also known as the Monastery of Saint John the Forerunner, Glakavank or Innaknyan Vank. According to the source, the photograph was taken by Henry Lynch around 1900–1901. The monastery stood in the Taron district of the Turuberan province of Greater Armenia, today in Turkey, near the town of Mush.

According to tradition, the monastery was founded by Gregory the Illuminator in the 4th century over the relics of John the Baptist. Built of tuff, the complex was one of the main centres of pilgrimage and learning for Armenians. In 1862 Mkrtich Khrimian, the future Catholicos of All Armenians, was appointed its abbot. Today the monastery building is half-ruined.

The photograph shows the bell tower with columned arches, the tall entrance arch and conical domes behind. Below is a caption in English and Armenian with the note “© 1923 Vartan A. Hampikian, New York”.