Tormak Church

In the forested highlands of Lori, south of the village of Gyulagarak, stand the mysterious ruins of Tormak Church. Built in the 5th–6th centuries, this early medieval temple is one of the best and most original examples of single-nave Armenian church architecture. Tormak is located in the ruins of the former village of Vormakadur and is a remarkable monument for both its architectural composition and decorative solutions. Tormak Church belongs to the hall-type structures and is surrounded on three sides by an outer gallery, reminiscent of the domed basilica of Odzun. The prayer hall has a rectangular layout, divided into three parts by pairs of wall supports. On the eastern side is a semicircular altar, and attached on the south is a square sacristy with intersecting vaults, ending in an external apse. Today, the church is in a semi-ruined state. The roof, central section of the northern wall, the main altar, and much of the facing stonework have collapsed. The apse is preserved on the eastern end of the church’s southern wing, and the western part of the outer gallery had an arched entrance. Tombstones are laid on the western and southern floors of the gallery. Tormak Church was once surrounded by a wall, remnants of which are still visible to the west and north, about 20–25 meters away.