A sacred legacy in stone

Ronald Altoon to present his photographic pilgrimage to Armenia’s ancient churches in Toronto

TORONTOHYE–On Friday, June 13, the Armenian Evangelical Church of Toronto will host a rare and visually striking presentation: Monasteries and Churches of Ancient Armenia: A Photographic Pilgrimage. The speaker is Ronald Arthur Altoon, an internationally acclaimed architect who has spent the past 35 years quietly, meticulously chronicling some of the oldest Christian structures on Earth.

What began as a chance detour during a post-earthquake humanitarian mission in 1989 soon became a lifelong pursuit. “I was taken to a half dozen historic monastery and church sites. I photographed them and began to research the development of this early Christian prototype,” Altoon told Torontohye. “I found very few of these extraordinary buildings published as a collection. I knew that this had to be my task.”

A third-generation Armenian-American, Altoon was born and raised in Los Angeles. His path to architecture began in high school and deepened through travels in Europe, where his passion for sacred design was shaped by visits to historic churches and modern masterpieces. But it was Armenia’s early Christian legacy that would ultimately define his most personal work.
Across 18 trips, Altoon visited 41 historic sites in Armenia and Artsakh. His forthcoming book, now in pre-publication, is a powerful photographic and architectural record of these landmarks. “Constructed mostly from a single stone material in a highly seismic-active geological zone, they live as a testimony to the ingenuity of their Armenian architects and engineers,” he said. “They essentially created something lasting from nothing by faith alone.”

For Altoon, who has designed projects in 46 countries, the act of photographing these buildings was as thoughtful as designing them. “I do not photograph objects. I photograph light,” he explained. “In historic church architecture, structure and light are inseparable. The structure is designed not only to support the building, but also to illuminate it.”

Certain sites left a lasting mark. He describes Tatev as “most dramatic” in its setting and defense; Sanahin as an “eerie yet compelling composition”; and Gandzasar, located in Artsakh, as remarkable for its “clarity of craftsmanship.”
More than a visual catalog, Altoon’s book aims to reframe how Armenians—and the world—understand these architectural achievements. “It’s not about going to Armenia and touching the bases before lunch,” he said. “It’s about understanding the extraordinary contribution the Armenian people made on behalf of their culture and their faith.”

Speaking to both Armenian and non-Armenian audiences, he hopes to spark a deeper appreciation for what these buildings represent. “For those who have visited Armenia, I hope to inspire a historic awareness beyond the basics,” he said. “For those who haven’t yet been, I hope to encourage them to make the trip and understand the depth of this heritage.”

His upcoming talk in Toronto won’t be a lecture in the traditional sense. “I pose more questions than I answer,” he noted. “The intent is to cause people to look beyond the surface and understand how critically significant these places are to the development of Christian architecture.”
With humility, precision, and reverence, Ronald Altoon offers a window into a sacred architectural tradition that predates the cathedrals of Europe—and still stands, centuries later, as a testament to faith, resilience, and design. ֎

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'Monasteries and churches of ancient Armenia: A photographic pilgrimage by Ronald Altoon' will take place on Friday, June 13, at 7:30 p.m. at the Armenian Evangelical Church of Toronto.

(Presentation language: English; free admission)

Kecharis Monastery in Tsakhkadzor (Photo: Ronald Altoon)
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This article was published in Torontohye's June 2025 issue (#214).