Bana Cathedral, located in Penek Village of Şenkaya district of Erzurum, awaits attention.
Although Bana Cathedral, also called Penek Castle, is one of the most important historical monuments of the region, it is about to disappear due to indifference.
Bana Cathedral is located in Penek Village of Şenkaya district of Erzurum. The first of the two monasteries is 500 meters northeast of Penek, and the second monastery is built on a hollow cave on the left cliff of Hoş village, 1 kilometer away. It is requested that the work be brought into tourism by making restoration work again. Science Teacher Emre Kızıltan said, “I am one of the nature lovers who take walks in this region. We are now in the Bana Cathedral. This is one of the surviving structures in Anatolia. This place was built by the Georgian Kingdom, which ruled the region for a long time.
Due to the Russian War, it served as the Ottomans’ castle (Penek Castle) for a while. It was largely destroyed by the war and its aftermath. This building, which has increased its popularity recently, witnesses the religious wedding ceremonies of the Georgian Tourists, and is waiting to be restored and brought to the country’s tourism.” (NTV)
