600-700 The most antique fortifications of the island were built during this period.
640 The first real town-walls appear, built for defense purposes by Theodore Rshtouni with several other buildings, among which, most probably was a church.
915-921 After a long period devoid of references or news, it was during these years that architect Manuel, under orders of King Gagik Artzrouni, built the church of the Holy Cross, the royal palace, the port with relative facilities and a new ring of fortified walls.
921 On the insistence of the king Gagik, who wanted to see Akdamar rose as an autonomous, diocese, the Katholikòs Ghevorg nominates Yeghishe, the king’s nephew, archbishop of Akdamar.
927 After vain attempts of king Ashot Yerkat (of iron) Bagratouni and his rival Ashot Shapouhian to liberate the city of Dvin from the yoke of the Arab emir, the seat the Katholikòs was transferred from Dvin to Akdamar for reasons of safety.
928 After the death of Ashot II Bagratouni, Gagik evokes himself the right to nominate the Katholikòs.
943 The seat of the Katholikòs is transferred to the city of Arghuina, near Ani.
966 Bishop Stephen, who aspired to be the Katholikòs of all northern Armenia, arrives in Akdamar in exile.
1112 After a long period devoid of references or news, Katholikòs Basil, escapes from An! and seeks protection at Akdamar where he was, already the highest religious authority. He nominates the young fifteen-year-old Gregory as his successor.
1113 Basil dies and Bishop David, supported by five other priests, rebel against his decisions, proclaiming himself Katholikòs.
1114 A general assembly of priests and feudatories – not less than 2.500 persons – excommunicate David, but were not able to enforce their decree and so David continued to exercise his position.
1165 A certain Stephen is nominated Katholikòs.
1200 – 1225 The powerful feudatories of Sefedinian become masters of the region of Akdamar.
1227 The Katholikòs Stephen II Narekatsi dies as is testified by a khatchkar in his memory, discovered in the monastery of the Resurrection, near the village of Devabouyn, on the banks of Lake Van.
1272 Stephen III Sefedinian, firstborn to king Sefedin, is nominated Katholikòs.
1276 In a manuscript, edited in the region of Vaspourakan by the scribe Romanos, the Katholikòs Stephen and King Leo, son of queen Zabel are cited.
1291 In an inscription in the church of the Resurrection in a village in the Metsop region, the builder of the church, a certain father Abraham, the Katholikòs Stephen and king Arghoun-Khan are mentioned.
1293 The Katholikòs Stephen is also cited in a manuscript of the monastery of Varag.
1293-1307 During these years Gregory of Anavarza tries to revoke the excommunication of the Katholikòs of Akdamar by the Katholikòs Gregory beginning a correspondence with King Cilicia Hethum. In this same period, the Katholikòs of Akdamar is Zaccaria.
1296 The Katholikòs Zaccaria is remembered for his friendly relationship with the metropolitan of Slounik, Stephen Orbelian.
1297 At Akdamar in the copied text of gospel the Katholikòs Zaccaria is referred to.
1303 The historian David of Akdamar writes the history of the fall of the Artzrouni dynasty. The Katholikòs Zaccaria and Stephen Orbelian are also mentioned.
Up to 1336, The Katholikòs Zaccaria has two gavit built in the church of the Holy Cross, one to the west and the other to the east. To Zaccaria, one can also attribute the beginning of the construction of the church of S. George, on the island of Lim, and other works of the monastery.
1336 Probably in this year Zaccaria’s nephew Stephen was nominated Katholikòs.
1340 Nerses Palients in his writings attacks the Armenians and the Katholikòs of Akdamar; criticizing above all the fact that although the Katholikòs is still living his successor should be nominated and should necessarily belong to the Artzrouni dynasty.
1345 During a synod held in the city of Sis (Cilicia), the Katholikòs of Akdamar spoken of with contempt by the Katholikòs Mkhitar Archbishop -. The historian David of Tabriz even calls him the anti-Katholikòs.
1346 The Katholikòs Zaccaria dies: his tomb with relative inscription still exists on the island. He is succeeded by his nephew David, in a moment when the country was in great difficulty.
1369 Zaccaria becomes Katholikòs, known later as the – martyr
1393 The Katholikòs Zaccaria is made a martyr: the episode of martyrdom is the subject of a poem by Gregory of Khlat, in which his successor is cited as his brother David: on the island there still exists a khatchkar in memory of their parents.
1409 Gregory of Tathev, a member of the community of the monastery of Akdamar, later became a famous political figure and a celebrated man of letters and was not restrained by this circumstance when he had to speak badly and excommunicate the Katholikòs of Akdamar.
1410 The Katholikòs James in the footsteps of Gregory of Tathev, confirmed the ex-communication of Akdamar and also excommunicated the Katholikòs of Sis (Cilicia). However, Gregory of Tathev was unable W separate the diocese of the region of Kadchberouni from that of Akdamar.
1431 The Kurd Peri-bek conquers the island and the region of Akdamar. The Katholikòs David was taken refuge in the village of Ourants, in the region of Mokk, for two years until following a peace treaty he returned to Akdamar.
1434 David nominates his successor, Zaccaria.
1441 The Katholikòs of all Armenia, Kirakos revokes the ex-communication of the Katholikòs of Akdamar.
1459 The Katholikòs Zaccaria, powerless against the oppression and sackings by Ghlidj-Aslan, invokes the help of the Persian king Dchanshah, who succeeds in liberating the region and re-establishes law and order.
1460 – 1461 A large synod re-establishes Echmiatzin as the seat of a Katholikòs, to which is elected Kirakos of Virap, colliding against the aspirations of Gregory of Makou. Following which he succeeded in substituting himself instead of Kirakos, but the Katholikòs Zaccaria using large gifts obtained from king Dchahanshah the right to be the Katholikòs of both Echmiatzin, from which he expelled Gregory, and of Akdamar.
1460 – 1500 From a rather reliable source, we know that for a short time the Katholikòs of Akdamar obtained also the jurisdiction of Echmiatzin.
1461 In this year a disagreement springs up between the king Dchanshah and the Sultan of Khlat (Ahlat) Dchahangir. Dchanshah conquers Khlat and makes ready to march against Baghesh (Bitlis), Sasoun and Taron, but Zaccaria fearing a catastrophe, offers himself as a mediator and succeeds in convincing Dchanshah to return to his lands. In December Dchahanshah marches against Shiraz and Kerman to quell several local revolts. His son Hasen-AIII organizes a plot against Zaccaria, to take him prisoner to use him as a ransom for the treasures of Echmiatzin: Zaccaria, who comes to hear of the plot, escapes to Van with the treasures and seeks refuge near Mahmat-Bek. The brother-in-law of Dchahanshah re-accompanies him with great honors to Akdamar.
1462 Zaccaria leaves the treasures in the monastery of Akdamar and returns to Echmiatzin with his nephew Stephen, who later is to be elected archbishop of this city.
1464 The Katholikòs Zaccaria is poisoned at Echmiatzin and is succeeded by Stephen at Akdamar and Aristakes at Echmiatzin.
1466 Smbat, the cousin of Katholikòs Stephen, becomes king of Vaspourakan with the help of Dchahanshah; but his reign never had an important political significance.
1467 Stephen succeeds in conquering the Katholikòs of Echmiatzin for a short period, but later re-affirms its independence. In this year king Dchahanshah dies; his son Hasan-Bek adopts a rather unfavorable political standing regarding Akdamar: in fact, the small reign of Vaspourakan is eliminated.
1473 From this date onwards, a new period full of wars, catastrophes and political struggles begins. Ouzoun-Hasan Agh-Ghoyanllou, king of Persia, Mesopotamia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia is heavily defeated by the Ottomans near the city of Derchan.
1489 Katholikòs Stephen dies and is succeeded by Zaccaria, the son of king Smbat.
1490 – 1495 During this period the nephew of King Ouzoun-Hasan, who later reigned under the name of Shah-Ismayil, is a guest at Akdamar where he was accompanied by Sheikh-Haydar, who had miraculously saved the king’s nephew from a massacre.
1491 Emir Sofi from Tabriz falls in the attempt to conquer Akdamar.
1496 This is probably the date in which Katholikòs Stephen dies and is succeeded by Atom.
1499 The Kurds of the region taking advantage of the occasion when the lake was covered in ice overrun the monastery of Akdamar and the surrounding areas, sacking and massacring numerous Turks and Armenians.
1500 King Shah-Ismayil conquers many territories among which is also the region of Vaspourakan. In this year the disorders begun in 1473 came to an end.
1510 In the short period of this date John and later Gregory become Katholikòs; the latter remained as head of the church for nearly thirty years, leaving among other things the fruit of considerable literary activity.
1512 In a gospel edited by the scribe Joseph the king Shah-IsmayiI and the Katholikòs John are cited.
1534 The Ottoman Turks conquer the whole of Armenia and also the region of Vaspourakan, at the end of a long series of wars against the Persian king Shah-Thamasp.
1544 Gregory II become the Katholikòs of Akdamar in this year and governs for nearly forty years.
1586 From this date ruled Katholikòs Gregory 111, nicknamed Gregory the minor, probably until 1612.
1606-1660 During this period there are no exact historical facts on which one can contemplate. We only know that in a letter from the Katholikòs of Sis (Cilicia), that during these years an important relationship was established between the Katholikòs of Akdamar and Echmiatzin. The Katholikòs of Echmiatzin Phillip (1632-1655) succeeded in extending his influence to the Katholikòs of Akdamar
1661-2 The Katholikòs of Akdamar Martiros, taking advantage of the confusion of the Turkish-Persian war turns to the sultan of Constantinople Mahmet, begging him to release the diocese of Van, Berkri, Ardjesh, Khlat, Baghesh, Moush and Hoshap from that of Echmiatzin and conceded them to Akdamar. However, the sultan, who was equally pestered by the KatholIk6s of Echmiatzin issued a decree in favor of the latter.
1669 The Katholikòs John Toutioundchi carries out restoration work in the monastery of Varag, devastated by an earthquake.
1670 The date in which Katholikòs Peter dies, inscribed on a plaque on his tomb which is to be, found in the cemetery of Akdamar.
1671 Stephen, successor to Katholikòs Peter, is remembered in a gospel carrying this date.
1677 In a gospel edited in the church of the village of Dasht, in the Mokk region, Karapet is remembered as the successor to the Katholikòs Phillip.
1681 Although he was never officially nominated Thomas was Katholikòs of Akdamar.
1682 In this year Katholikòs Thomas is received by the Katholikòs of Echmiatzin Yeghiazar and confirmed as the Katholikòs of Akdamar.
1696 The Katholikòs of Echmiatzin Nahapet revokes the title of Katholikòs of Akdamar of Thomas owing to a personal resentment between the two and bishop Avetis is nominated in his place.
1697 Katholikòs Thomas reacts with the help of Toursoun-Pasha and obtains the diocese of the city of Van, nominating Sahak Artsketsi as his successor in direct contrast to the wishes of the Katholikòs of Echmiatzin.
1698 After only four months after his nomination Sahak Artzketsi dies.
1699 John Ketzouk becomes Katholikòs until 1704.
1705 John is succeeded by Katholikòs Hayrapet I but only governs for two years.
1707 Katholikòs Hayrapet dies and is succeeded by Gregory remains until 1711.
1720 John Hayots-Dzoretsi is elected Katholikòs.
1725 In a book written in the monastery of Arberd the Katholikòs Gregory of Hizan is remembered for having carried out numerous architectural works, especially in the monastery of Akhavank.
1736 Nicholas of Sparakert is elected Katholikòs. Once assumed power he succeeds in giving a considerable impulse to the cultural life of the monastery.
1743 The Katholikòs Nicholas begins to extend again the religious influence of the monastery and the Katholikòs of Akdamar. Thus he sends father Alexander to Constantinople to obtain a decree from the Sultan to the effect that the diocese of Van, Baghesh, and Moush, with relative city return under the jurisdiction of Akdamar. Father Alexander, having obtained the edict, succeeds in seizing all the goods and taxes already collected in these dioceses that were to be handed over to the envoy of the monastery of Echmiatzin.
1746 The reaction of the monastery of Echmiatzin is not late in coming. The Katholikòs Lazzarus violently protests to the court of Constantinople and with the help of James, the Armenian patriarch of the city, obtains a new edict which re-assigns the diocese in discussion to the Katholikòs of Echmiatzin. The Katholikòs of Akdamar Nicholas is arrested and imprisoned.
1747 All the members of the monastery of Akdamar and many other religious authorities of the region turn to Katholikòs Lazzarus asking clemency for the imprisoned Katholikòs. Lazzarus consents to liberate him but in exchange succeeds in annexing the monastery of Akdamar and its area of influence to Echmiatzin. The Katholikos Nicholas is also obliged to pay to the rival monastery all the goods coming from taxes, duties, donations and other revenue.
1751 Nicholas dies and his successor proclaims his independence in full contrast with the agreements stipulated with Echmiatzin.
1761 Thomas becomes Katholikòs of Akdamar; he declares himself still independent but following a difficult economic situation is forced to go to Echmiatzin to renew the old agreements with the Katholikòs James to obtain economic help.
1764 On the base of pacts stipulated with the monastery of Echmiatzin the Katholikòs Thomas elaborates a text which from then on was to regulate the relations between the two institutions.
1783 On the death of the Katholikòs Karapet assumes an attitude in direct contrast to the seat of Echmiatzin but finishes in winning the approval of the Katholikòs Luke.
1788 However following further vindications by the Katholikòs Karapet, Luke abandons any favorable attitude and nominates a certain Mark Katholikòs of Akdamar.
1792-1794 During these two years a certain Theodor is Katholikòs of Akdamar.
1796 Katholikòs Michael who is to have succeeded Karapet is attributed to have composed numerous pieces of religiously inspired music.
1803 Khatchatour Vanetsi becomes Katholikòs: for the work he accomplished he was later called – miraculous and immaculate.
1804 Katholikòs Karapet dies of a heart attack and is buried in the cemetery of Akdamar.
1823 Haroutioun dies and is succeeded by John of Shatakh.
1843 On the death of John, the Armenian patriarch of Constantinople tries at all costs to prevent the election of the new Katholikòs, on the pretext that the seat of Akdamar directly depended on the city of Constantinople. Notwithstanding the strong opposition, Khatchatour Mokatsi, a member of the monastery proclaims himself Katholikòs: but soon after the Sultan of Constantinople, granting the requests of the patriarch, exiles the rebel Katholikòs to Nicopoli (Sebinkarahisar: Shapin-Karahisar).
1846 After three years Khatchatour can return to the monastery of Akdamar on condition that he does not participate in political activity.
1854 Gabriel dies, having already refused the position several years before. He is succeeded by the Abbot Vardapet Khatchatour.
1858 An agreement is finally reached between the patriarch of Constantinople and the monastery of Akdamar; nevertheless, the life in the monastery is still not completely tranquil, because the endless struggles for power (among which one of the most severe was the one conducted by a certain Hakob Yedesatsi) hampered the work of the Katholikòs Peter Piuolpioul.
1864 Khatchatour Shiroyan organizes a plot against the Katholikòs Peter, succeeding in the end in killing him and substituting himself as Katholikòs.
1868 Khatchatour Shiroyan is not able to prevent the news of the scandal; summoned to the court of Constantinople and put on trial for the -murder of the Katholikòs Peter but is glamorously declared innocent. Thus he can return to Akdamar to continue as Katholikòs.
1876 Khatchatour is decorated with the medal of Medchidiye by the Ottoman sultan.
1895 The Katholikòs Khatchatour dies and the diocese of Akdamar is definitively annexed to the patriarch of Constantinople.
1900 Akdamar becomes an ordinary monastery run by an abbot: from which depended on the regions of Gevas, Shatakh, Nortouz, and Mokk, in all 193 churches and 41 monasteries. The city of Khizan and the village of the surrounding regions (109 churches and 17 monasteries) had the monastery of Akdamar as their religious center.
1917 The monastery ceases all activities and is finally abandoned because of the adverse political conditions.