Ishkhani (Ishan) Monastery

The word Ishkhani means prince in the Armenian language. According to the resources, the nephew and follower of the priest Gregory of Khandzta Saba founded the early version of the church instead of the one that was damaged during the Arab invasions of the 7th century. It has been known that it was used as a bishopric until the 16th century when the Ottomans conquered the region. The monastery's west side façade was converted into a mosque after the Ottomans. The mosque was open for prayer till 1983. According to the local myths, men who wished to marry Elen, the beautiful daughter of the Seljuk lord, competed and the losers were killed. Thus the church was named "Bloody Church" in history.