Monastery of Geghard And The Upper Azat Valley (World Heritage Site in Armenia)

Monastery of Geghard And The Upper Azat Valley

Short Report

The monastery of Geghard contains a number of churches and graves, most of them are built into the rocks, which illustrate the highlight of Armenian medieval architecture. The complex of medieval buildings in a landscape of great natural beauty, surrounded by towering cliffs at the entrance of the Upper azat Valley.

Wide Report

The Geghard complex is a very complete and well-preserved example of a medieval Armenian a monastic foundation in a secluded area of great natural beauty on the head of the Upper azat valley, surrounded by towering cliffs. It contains a large number of churches and graves, most of them built in the rocks, which illustrate the highlight of Armenian medieval architecture and decorative arts, with many innovative features that had a great influence on the developments in the region. It was founded in the 4th century, according to the surrender of St Gregory the illuminator. The first monastery was destroyed by Arabs in the 9th century, but was flourishing again by the 13th century. The monastery is famous for the remains housed there, the most celebrated the spear injured that Christ on the cross. Remains of the Apostles Andrew and John were donated in the 12th century, and the pious visitors has numerous gifts of land, money, manuscripts and through the following centuries.

The oldest part of the monastery complex of Haghpat is the small chapel of St Gregory, that is located to the east of and outside the main group. It is dug directly into the rocks of the mountain and is incomplete. The oldest of the markings on the wall is from 1177. The ornate decoration of crosses on the facade of the wall built on the rock. Built according to an inscription in 1215, the Kathoghikè (large church) is in the classical Armenian form, an equal weapons cross engraved in a square and covered with a dome on a square foot. It is connected to the bottom with vaults. The eastern arm of the cross ends in a apse, the rest are square. In the corners there are small barrel-vaulted two-storey chapels. On the walls there are many inscriptions record donations. The masonry of the walls is a pretty finished and equipped. A gavit (hall) links with the first stone-carved church.

As usual in the medieval Armenian architecture, the structure of this building is the same as that of the peasant hut, where four massive detached columns in the center support a roof of wooden beams with a hole in the middle to be lit. The canonical version, in stone, is an imposing structure. The peripheral areas resulting from the location of the columns are repeatedly covered, while the central space is crowned by a dome with stalactites, the most perfect example of this technique anywhere in Armenia. The gavit was used for education and meetings, and for those pilgrims and visitors.

The first stone-carved church was built in 1250, completely excavated in the rock and on an equal-armed late Gothic cruciform basilica plan. To the east a more or less square chamber built into the rock face was one of the princely graves (zamatoun ) of the Proshyan dynasty. This gives access to the second stone-carved church built in 1283. The second zamatoun , accessible via an external staircase, contains the graves of the prinsen Merik and grigor. The monastery complex is surrounded by a defensive wall in the 12th to the 13th century. The majority of the monks lived in the cells excavated in the rock outside the main enceinte was partly retained, which have been preserved, together with a few simple oratories.

Historical Data

The monastery is situated at the head of the Upper azat valley, surrounded by towering cliffs. It was founded in the 4th century, according to the surrender of St Gregory the illuminator. The site is a spring which is in a cave, which were sacred in pre-Christian times, so one of the names by which he was known, Ayvirank (the Monastery of the Cave). The first monastery was destroyed by Arabs in the 9th century, but it was restored and is alive and kicking by the 13th century under the patronage of the Proshyan princes, who are buried. They provided it with an irrigation system in 1200, as well as for the construction and repair of most of the churches in the complex. At this time, also known as the Monastery of the Seven churches and the monastery of the forty altars.

The monastery is famous for the remains there housed. The most famous of these was the spear which injured Christ on the cross would be charged by the Apostle Thaddeus, of which the current name, Geghardavank (the Monastery of the Spear), first mentioned in a document of 1250. This made it a popular pilgrimage site for Armenian Christians for centuries. Remains of the Apostles Andrew and John were donated in the 12th century, and the pious visitors has numerous gifts of land, money, manuscripts, etc over the subsequent centuries.

Source:whc/unesco

Monasteries of Haghpat and Sanahin (World Heritage Site in Armenia)

Monasteries of Haghpat and Sanahin

Short Report

These two Byzantine monasteries in the Tumanian region from the period of prosperity during the Kiurikian dynasty ( 10th to 13th century) were important centers of learning. Sanahin is known for its school radiators and calligraphers. The two a monastic complexes are the highest flowering of the Armenian religious architecture, their unique style developed from a mix of elements of Byzantine church architecture and the traditional common architecture of the Caucasian region.

Wide Report

These two Byzantine monasteries in the Tumanian region from the period of prosperity during the Kiurikian dynasty (10TH- 13th century) were important centers of learning. Sanahin especially known for its school of illuminators and calligraphers. They are extraordinary examples of the 'domed hall' religious architecture in Armenia from the 10th to the 13th century, which combined elements of both Byzantine church architecture and the current traditional architectural style of the region.

The construction of the large church the large reinforced a monastic complex of Haghpat, dedicated to the Holy Cross, began in 966-67 and was completed in 991. The central bubble based on four large pillars in the walls. The exterior walls are almost entirely covered by triangular niches. The apsis contains a fresco of Christ Pantocrator. The building is complete and in the original form, apart from some 11th- and 12th-century restorations, including the large gavit which access is gained to the church. The plan of the gavit, built in the second decade of the 13th century, varies considerably in style of the big church. A large narthex-building type be used for meetings, teaching and and rituals is based on common architecture in wood, with the roof supported by four pillars in the center of the structure. Vaulting divides the inside of the roof in nine sections, the central role of the (yerdik ) is the highest and dominates the interior space, as illuminating. The church is combined with a vaulted continuity to a large jamatoun (chapter house), in the same style as the gavit, built in the 13th century. The church is also connected with the library, a compact, square building, dating from the 12th century.

The Sanahin Monastery consists of a large group of buildings on the plateau above the Debit gorge and skillfully integrated into the impressive mountain scenery. The buildings are divided into two rectangular shafts, with their facades to the west. The main church, built in the 10th century, is the Cathedral of the Savior. The emphasis of the cross-shaped device is on the core and the harmony between the square foot and the round bubble. In this case the central dome is surrounded by four two-storey sacristies or chapels. In the west there is a four-surrounded by gavit built in 1181. The plan is that of a cross engraved in a square. Lighting is by means of a hole in the middle of the dome. This is the earliest known example of this type of structure, which owes its origin to Armenian farmers consisting of square rooms with four detached columns the roof and a hole in the middle to smoke to be distributed.

The Church of the Mother God's (Astvatzatzin), located in the north of the cathedral, and is connected to it by means of an open-ended vaulted passage, is the oldest building of the complex, built in 934 by monks from fleeing from Byzantium. The large library (its scriptorium), built in 1063, is square and arched, with ten niches of different sizes in which codices and books are stored. On the south-eastern corner of the library you will find the small church dedicated to St. Gregory the illuminator. The 11th-century Academy of Gregory Magistros is located between the two main churches. The deep alcoves along the walls and the abundance of light give the building a special spatial quality. The cemetery, located to the southeast of the main buildings, contains the late 12th-century mausoleum of the Zakarian princes.

Historical Data

Christianity has played a crucial role in the development of the Armenian art and architecture. The 'classic' style developed in the 5 7th century, but the further development came to an abrupt end with the Arab occupation began at the end of the 7th century. Armenia became independent at the end of the 9th century and Armenian art was revived when the kingdom was consolidated and the national identity restored. The two monasteries of Haghpat and Sanahin date from this period, during the flowering of the Kiurikian dynasty and the Zakarian Princes. They were important centers for training, housing 500 monks and eloquent testimony of the highest achievement of the Armenian architecture.

Haghpat, built by the royal Bagratouni dynasty in the Lori district of northern Armenia in the 970s, was known from early times as Sourb Nshan (the Holy Cross) of Haghpat. Construction to the design of the architect Methods was completed in 991. The earthquake on several occasions, and in 1105 was taken and burned by the Selcuk prince Amir-Ghzil . That is the spiritual significance of Haghpat Sanahin and its neighbor, the castle of Kaian was built in 1233 to protect against the marauding MongoIs, but this was taken by storm in 1241. Nevertheless a monastic life continued and new buildings were added later in the 13th century. There was a period of intensive restoration in the 17th century.

Source:whc/unesco

Cathedral and Churches of Echmiatsin and the Archaeological Site of Zvartnots (World Heritage Site in Armenia)

Cathedral and Churches of Echmiatsin and the Archaeological Site of Zvartnots 

Brief Report

The cathedral and churches of Echmiatsin and the archaeological remains in site Zvartnots graphically illustrate the evolution and development of the Armenian central domes cross-hall type church, which have an enormous impact on architectural and artistic development in the region.

Wide Report

The religious buildings and the archeological relics of Etchmiadzine and Zvartnotz manifest the establishment of Christianity in Armenia and evolution of a completely specific Armenian ecclesiastical architecture, characterized by the cross-shaped building with central dome, which profoundly influenced the architectural and artistic development of all this region.

The cathedral Saint-Etchmiadzine is the oldest place of Christian worship as Armenia. It was built between 301 and 303 by Grigor Lousavorich, the founder of the apostolic Armenian Church with Vagharshapat, which was at the time the capital and the religious center of Armenia. \n It acted in the beginning of an arched basilica, but various political events carried to its partial destruction and its reconstruction according to the current cruciform plan, realized into 480. In 618, its cupola out of wooden was replaced by an identical stone cupola which was preserved,  \nalmost without change, until our days.  This one rests on four massive pillars, connected to the external walls by slim arcades; those on the northern side go back to 4th and 5th centuries. The bell-tower on three floors builds vis-a-vis the Western entry dates from the 17th century. \n The rotundas with six columns resting on formed bases by four pillars, built at the beginning of the 18th century against the apses north, is and southern, confer on the cathedral the aspect of a construction with five cupolas.

The church Saint-Hripsimeh offers a perfect example of cruciform plan to central cupola. Its essential characteristics are the fundamental harmony of its plan and its proportions, as well as the simplicity and the classical purity of its frontages, which are principal qualities of the Armenian architecture of the Early middle ages. \n Except the construction of a bell-tower at the 18th century, the monument did not undergo any fundamental transformation.  The church Saint-Gayaneh is characterized by his slim and delicate proportions. During the 17th century, one rebuilt a cupola and various ceilings, as well as a vast gantry used like place of burial for the most eminent members of the Armenian clergy, built along his Western frontage.

The archaeological site of Zvartnotz represents a single example of Armenian architecture of the beginning of the Christian era. The construction of the crowned building was started with Catholicos Nerses III, around the middle of the 7th century. \n After having given up a time, into 652, with the episcopal throne, it took again its functions into 658 and completed into 662 the construction of the church with its defensive appendices secular and its walls. Zvartnotz exerted a considerable influence on the architecture of this time, but also on that of the following centuries. \n Of circular plan, and comprising three stages, it did not borrow from the former, cruciform churches and with central cupola, that its cruciform internal plan, which fits in a circular external wall towards the interior, but polygonal towards outside. \n The church of Zvartnotz and the buildings which depended on it, destroyed by an earthquake during the course of Xe century, were rediscovered at the beginning of the 20th century by the architect Thoros Thoramanian, who is the author of the first reconstruction project.

Historical Data

The religious buildings and archaeological remains in Echmiatsin and site Zvartnots witnesses of the implantation of christianity in Armenia and the development of a unique Armenian church architecture, the Armenian central domes cross-hall, which have an enormous impact on architectural and artistic development of the region.  The Cathedral of the Holy Echmiatzin is the oldest Christian worship in Armenia, build in 301-3 of Gregor Lousavorich, the founder of the Armenian Apostolic church, in Vagharshapat, the capital and religious center of Armenia. It was originally a vaulted basilica, but after a serious damage as a result of political unrest it was given its present late Gothic cruciform basilica plan during restoration work in 480. In 618 wooden bubble was replaced by an identical copy in stone that survive almost unchanged. The weight is supported by four huge independent pillars connected by thin arcades in the exterior walls; that on the northern side was one of the 4th and 5th century. A three-tier tower was built for the western entrance in the 17th century. The six-column rotundas on four pillars bases, built at the beginning of the 18th century on the northern, eastern and southern apses, give a five-domed cathedral.

The Church of St Hripsimeh plan is the perfect example of late Gothic cruciform basilica and central dome. The dominant feature is the harmony of layout and proportions, as well as the simplicity and classic purity of the facades, the excellent qualities of the Armenian architecture of the high Middle Ages. Apart from the addition of a bell tower from the 17th century, the monument has undergone no fundamental transformation. The distinctive features of the Church of St Gayaneh are slim and delicate relations. A dome and roofs were rebuilt in the 17th century, when a spacious vaulted gallery was built along the western facade as a graveyard for the most prominent Armenian clergy.

The site Zvartnots Archaeological Site is a unique example of the Armenian architecture of the early Christian period. Building of the temple is started by Catholicos Nerses III in the mid 7th century. For a time after was relinquishing Catholicossal throne in 652, but after his return in 658 he completed the construction of the temple with its secular annexs and the ramparts in 662. Site Zvartnots exerted a large influence on the architecture not only of his own time, but also that of later centuries. Circular in plan and three-tier, its only loans in previous late Gothic cruciform basilica and central bubble churches was the interior late Gothic cruciform basilica plan, which was located in walls which are round on the inside but polyhedral on the outside. The remains of site Zvartnots and associated buildings, destroyed by an earthquake in the 10th century, were found at the beginning of the 20th century by the architect Thoros Thoramanian, which the first reconstruction.

Source:whc/unesco