It was seen as one of the largest and most important Armenian churches in the Middle East , with seven altars . It was closed during the Armenian Genocide in 1915 – 1916 , and was returned to the local Armenian community in 1960 , although due to emigration in the 1970s and 1980s the local Armenian community was much diminished . According to some art historians , the church is the largest in the Middle East . The complex sprawls over 3,200 square meters and includes priests ' houses , chapels and a school . The church was seized by the Imperial German Army in 1913 and served as their local headquarters during World War I until 1918 , when it was converted into a fabric warehouse
Armenian Genocide
Armenian Genocide
St. Giragos Armenian Church