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Proud as a Peacock: Armenia's New Yazidi Temple

Published October 23rd, 2019 - 06:18 GMT

The Yazidi temple in Aknalich, Armenia, become the largest in the world. The temple’s 7 domes, each with a gold-plated sun on top, represent 7 angels revered by the Yazidis.

Worshippers kiss the marble walls and gaze at an ornate peacock inlaid with multi-colored stones inside the world's largest Yazidi temple, which was opened in Armenia. 

An ancient ethnic group much persecuted for their faith, Yazidis have found a safe haven in the ex-Soviet Caucasus country and have built this gleaming white temple surrounded by a rose garden. Yazidis have a community of around 35,000 in Armenia, where they are able to freely practice their religion. They also live in Syria, Turkey, and Iraq. Yazidis worship one God, who, they believe, created the world and entrusted it to seven Holy Beings, the most important of which is Melek Taus, or the Peacock Angel.

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Photo of little Yezidi child in Yezidi traditional clothes in Lalish Temple the holiest Yezidi Religious Site in the world (Twitter)

Photo of little Yezidi child in Yezidi traditional clothes in Lalish Temple the holiest Yezidi Religious Site in the world (Twitter)

Lalish temple is the holiest Yazidi temple in the world. Most Yazidis make a pilgrimage to the Lalish, where they practice their rituals and religious rituals for most of their festivals, at least once in their lives (Twitter)

Lalish temple is the holiest Yazidi temple in the world. Most Yazidis make a pilgrimage to the Lalish, where they practice their rituals and religious rituals for most of their festivals, at least once in their lives (Twitter)

Yezidi women and men work Voluntarily to serve this holy site (Twitter)

Yezidi women and men work Voluntarily to serve this holy site (Twitter)

The new Yazidi Temple in the village of Aknalich, 35 kilometres from the Armenian capital Yerevan, on October 11, 2019 Worshippers kiss the marble walls and gaze at an ornate peacock inlaid with multi-coloured stones inside the world's largest Yazidi temple, which has opened in Armenia. KAREN MINASYAN / AFP

The new Yazidi Temple in the village of Aknalich, 35 kilometres from the Armenian capital Yerevan, on October 11, 2019 Worshippers kiss the marble walls and gaze at an ornate peacock inlaid with multi-coloured stones inside the world's largest Yazidi temple, which has opened in Armenia. KAREN MINASYAN / AFP

An ancient ethnic group much persecuted for their faith, Yazidis have found a safe haven in the ex-Soviet Caucasus country and have built this gleaming white temple surrounded by a rose garden. Yazidis have a community of around 35,000 in Armenia, where they are able to freely practise their religion. They also live in Syria, Turkey and Iraq. KAREN MINASYAN / AFP

An ancient ethnic group much persecuted for their faith, Yazidis have found a safe haven in the ex-Soviet Caucasus country and have built this gleaming white temple surrounded by a rose garden. Yazidis have a community of around 35,000 in Armenia, where they are able to freely practise their religion. They also live in Syria, Turkey and Iraq. KAREN MINASYAN / AFP

Yazidis have a community of around 35,000 in Armenia, where they are able to freely practise their religion. They also live in Syria, Turkey and Iraq. Yazidis worship one God, who, they believe, created the world and entrusted it to seven Holy Beings, the most important of which is Melek Taus, or the Peacock Angel. KAREN MINASYAN / AFP

Yazidis have a community of around 35,000 in Armenia, where they are able to freely practise their religion. They also live in Syria, Turkey and Iraq. Yazidis worship one God, who, they believe, created the world and entrusted it to seven Holy Beings, the most important of which is Melek Taus, or the Peacock Angel. KAREN MINASYAN / AFP

A woman kisses an image of the Melek Taus, or the Peacock Angel, in the new Yazidi Temple in the village of Aknalich, 35 kilometres from the Armenian capital Yerevan, KAREN MINASYAN / AFP

A woman kisses an image of the Melek Taus, or the Peacock Angel, in the new Yazidi Temple in the village of Aknalich, 35 kilometres from the Armenian capital Yerevan, KAREN MINASYAN / AFP

A view of the interior of the new Yazidi Temple in the village of Aknalich, 35 kilometres from the Armenian capital Yerevan, KAREN MINASYAN / AFP

A view of the interior of the new Yazidi Temple in the village of Aknalich, 35 kilometres from the Armenian capital Yerevan, KAREN MINASYAN / AFP

Yazidis in Armenia are dressed in traditional clothes to celebrate the opening of the new Yazidi Temple in the village of Aknalich (Twitter)

Yazidis in Armenia are dressed in traditional clothes to celebrate the opening of the new Yazidi Temple in the village of Aknalich (Twitter)

Yazidi temple in Aknalich, Armenia (Twitter)

Yazidi temple in Aknalich, Armenia (Twitter)

Photo of little Yezidi child in Yezidi traditional clothes in Lalish Temple the holiest Yezidi Religious Site in the world (Twitter)
Lalish temple is the holiest Yazidi temple in the world. Most Yazidis make a pilgrimage to the Lalish, where they practice their rituals and religious rituals for most of their festivals, at least once in their lives (Twitter)
Yezidi women and men work Voluntarily to serve this holy site (Twitter)
The new Yazidi Temple in the village of Aknalich, 35 kilometres from the Armenian capital Yerevan, on October 11, 2019 Worshippers kiss the marble walls and gaze at an ornate peacock inlaid with multi-coloured stones inside the world's largest Yazidi temple, which has opened in Armenia. KAREN MINASYAN / AFP
An ancient ethnic group much persecuted for their faith, Yazidis have found a safe haven in the ex-Soviet Caucasus country and have built this gleaming white temple surrounded by a rose garden. Yazidis have a community of around 35,000 in Armenia, where they are able to freely practise their religion. They also live in Syria, Turkey and Iraq. KAREN MINASYAN / AFP
Yazidis have a community of around 35,000 in Armenia, where they are able to freely practise their religion. They also live in Syria, Turkey and Iraq. Yazidis worship one God, who, they believe, created the world and entrusted it to seven Holy Beings, the most important of which is Melek Taus, or the Peacock Angel. KAREN MINASYAN / AFP
A woman kisses an image of the Melek Taus, or the Peacock Angel, in the new Yazidi Temple in the village of Aknalich, 35 kilometres from the Armenian capital Yerevan, KAREN MINASYAN / AFP
A view of the interior of the new Yazidi Temple in the village of Aknalich, 35 kilometres from the Armenian capital Yerevan, KAREN MINASYAN / AFP
Yazidis in Armenia are dressed in traditional clothes to celebrate the opening of the new Yazidi Temple in the village of Aknalich (Twitter)
Yazidi temple in Aknalich, Armenia (Twitter)
Photo of little Yezidi child in Yezidi traditional clothes in Lalish Temple the holiest Yezidi Religious Site in the world (Twitter)
Photo of little Yezidi child in Yezidi traditional clothes in Lalish Temple the holiest Yezidi Religious Site in the world (Twitter)
Lalish temple is the holiest Yazidi temple in the world. Most Yazidis make a pilgrimage to the Lalish, where they practice their rituals and religious rituals for most of their festivals, at least once in their lives (Twitter)
Lalish temple is the holiest Yazidi temple in the world. Most Yazidis make a pilgrimage to the Lalish, where they practice their rituals and religious rituals for most of their festivals, at least once in their lives (Twitter)
Yezidi women and men work Voluntarily to serve this holy site (Twitter)
Yezidi women and men work Voluntarily to serve this holy site (Twitter)
The new Yazidi Temple in the village of Aknalich, 35 kilometres from the Armenian capital Yerevan, on October 11, 2019 Worshippers kiss the marble walls and gaze at an ornate peacock inlaid with multi-coloured stones inside the world's largest Yazidi temple, which has opened in Armenia. KAREN MINASYAN / AFP
The new Yazidi Temple in the village of Aknalich, 35 kilometres from the Armenian capital Yerevan, on October 11, 2019 Worshippers kiss the marble walls and gaze at an ornate peacock inlaid with multi-coloured stones inside the world's largest Yazidi temple, which has opened in Armenia. KAREN MINASYAN / AFP
An ancient ethnic group much persecuted for their faith, Yazidis have found a safe haven in the ex-Soviet Caucasus country and have built this gleaming white temple surrounded by a rose garden. Yazidis have a community of around 35,000 in Armenia, where they are able to freely practise their religion. They also live in Syria, Turkey and Iraq. KAREN MINASYAN / AFP
An ancient ethnic group much persecuted for their faith, Yazidis have found a safe haven in the ex-Soviet Caucasus country and have built this gleaming white temple surrounded by a rose garden. Yazidis have a community of around 35,000 in Armenia, where they are able to freely practise their religion. They also live in Syria, Turkey and Iraq. KAREN MINASYAN / AFP
Yazidis have a community of around 35,000 in Armenia, where they are able to freely practise their religion. They also live in Syria, Turkey and Iraq. Yazidis worship one God, who, they believe, created the world and entrusted it to seven Holy Beings, the most important of which is Melek Taus, or the Peacock Angel. KAREN MINASYAN / AFP
Yazidis have a community of around 35,000 in Armenia, where they are able to freely practise their religion. They also live in Syria, Turkey and Iraq. Yazidis worship one God, who, they believe, created the world and entrusted it to seven Holy Beings, the most important of which is Melek Taus, or the Peacock Angel. KAREN MINASYAN / AFP
A woman kisses an image of the Melek Taus, or the Peacock Angel, in the new Yazidi Temple in the village of Aknalich, 35 kilometres from the Armenian capital Yerevan, KAREN MINASYAN / AFP
A woman kisses an image of the Melek Taus, or the Peacock Angel, in the new Yazidi Temple in the village of Aknalich, 35 kilometres from the Armenian capital Yerevan, KAREN MINASYAN / AFP
A view of the interior of the new Yazidi Temple in the village of Aknalich, 35 kilometres from the Armenian capital Yerevan, KAREN MINASYAN / AFP
A view of the interior of the new Yazidi Temple in the village of Aknalich, 35 kilometres from the Armenian capital Yerevan, KAREN MINASYAN / AFP
Yazidis in Armenia are dressed in traditional clothes to celebrate the opening of the new Yazidi Temple in the village of Aknalich (Twitter)
Yazidis in Armenia are dressed in traditional clothes to celebrate the opening of the new Yazidi Temple in the village of Aknalich (Twitter)
Yazidi temple in Aknalich, Armenia (Twitter)
Yazidi temple in Aknalich, Armenia (Twitter)
Tags:YazidisYazidis of ArmeniaAknalichYerevanSyriaIraq

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