Akhteh Khaneh Explained

Official Name:Akhteh Khaneh
Native Name:اخته خانه
Settlement Type:village
Pushpin Map:Iran
Mapsize:150px
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Type1:Province
Subdivision Name1:West Azerbaijan
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2:Salmas
Subdivision Type3:Bakhsh
Subdivision Name3:Central
Subdivision Type4:Rural District
Subdivision Name4:Lakestan
Population As Of:2006
Population Total:587
Population Density Km2:auto
Timezone:IRST
Utc Offset:+3:30
Timezone Dst:IRDT
Utc Offset Dst:+4:30
Coordinates:38.1839°N 44.8825°W

Akhteh Khaneh (Persian: اخته خانه, also Romanized as Ākhteh Khāneh or Akhtekhaneh; in Armenian: Ախտախանայ) is a village in Lakestan Rural District, in the Central District of Salmas County, West Azerbaijan Province, Iran. At the 2006 census, its population was 587, in 129 families. There was an Armenian community in Akhteh Khaneh in the late 19th and 20th centuries.[1] Today the population is Turkish.

The church

The village is home to Surp Asdvadzadzin Church. It was built in 1342 and restored in 1891.[2] "Asvadzadzin" means "Mother of God".[3] It is built of rough stone masonry and kiln bricks and has three domes.[2]

Location

The village is located roughly equidistant between Road 14 and Road 11. The nearest village is Bakhsh Kandi which is approximately 1 mile away.[4]

Earthquake damage

The village was affected by the 1930 Salmas earthquake.[2] All the buildings except the church were destroyed and there were four casualties. The relatively low number of casualties was because the villages felt the tremors so decided to sleep out of doors. The church remained standing but was left with fissures in the walls. It has not been restored.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Armenian communities in Iran. 19 April 2014.
  2. Web site: The Salmas (Iran) Earthquake of May 6th, 1930. 19 April 2014 . J.S. Tchalenko . M. Berberian.
  3. Web site: Azdvadzadzin Mother of God. 19 April 2014.
  4. Web site: Google Maps. 19 April 2014.