Cathedral of Kars

Kümbet Mosque
Cathedral of Kars, in 2014
Religion
AffiliationSunni Islam
RiteArmenian Apostolic cathedral (until 1065)
Mosque (1579–1877)
Russian Orthodox cathedral (1877–1918)
Mosque (1918–19)
Armenian Apostolic church (1919–64)
Kars Museum (1964–93)
Mosque (1993–present)
Location
LocationKars, Turkey
Shown within Turkey
Geographic coordinates40°36′40.7″N 43°05′29.2″E / 40.611306°N 43.091444°E / 40.611306; 43.091444
Architecture
TypeCathedral
StyleArmenian
FounderAbas I of Armenia
Groundbreaking930 or 931–2
Completed937, 943, or 967

The Cathedral of Kars, also known as the Holy Apostles Church (Armenian: Կարսի Սուրբ Առաքելոց եկեղեցի, Karsi Surb Arakelots' yekeghets'i; Turkish: Aziz Havariler Kilisesi or "Church of the Twelve Apostles" 12 Havariler Kilisesi) is a former Armenian Apostolic church in Kars, eastern Turkey. Built in the mid-10th century by the Armenian Bagratid King Abas I (r. 928–953), it was converted into a mosque in 1579. In the 19th and early 20th century it was converted into a Russian Orthodox and later Armenian cathedral. In 1993 it was again converted into a mosque and is called Kümbet Mosque (Turkish: Kümbet Camii, literally "domed mosque"). It currently comprises part of a larger Islamic complex that includes the Evliya Mosque, the biggest mosque in Kars.