Yazidi Temple

On September 29, 2019, the village of Aknalich in Armenia’s Armavir Province became the site of a historic event—the inauguration of the world’s largest Yazidi temple, known as a ziarat. Yazidi shrines are rare across the globe, and this one now stands as a powerful symbol of faith and cultural endurance. The opening ceremony drew Yazidis from many countries, alongside Armenian state officials and the global spiritual leaders of the Yazidi people—Mîr Tahsîn Beg and Axteyarê Marge—who bestowed upon the temple its official name: Sultan Ezid.

According to Hasan Hasanyan, the spiritual leader of Yazidis in Armenia, the Aknalich temple is the first Yazidi religious complex ever built on the territory of the former Soviet Union. Standing 25 meters tall and constructed from marble and granite, the temple houses a prayer hall, a religious school, and a museum. The architectural vision was brought to life by Artak Ghulyan, one of Armenia’s most renowned architects.

Yazidis trace their spiritual lineage to ancient Zoroastrianism, and today, around 35,000 Yazidis live in Armenia. Despite a turbulent history, the Yazidi community has long found a place within Armenian society. Since Soviet times, they have practiced their religion openly, published newspapers, and produced textbooks in their native language.

The temple was funded by Mirza Sloyan, a Moscow-based entrepreneur originally from Aknalich, whose contribution made the realization of this significant religious site possible.

Yazidi religious belief centers on the veneration of seven archangels, each associated with a day of the week. Foremost among them is the Peacock Angel, a radiant and enigmatic figure sometimes compared to the Ghazar Bulbul, a mythical bird of Armenian folklore.