Ancient Armenia |
EARLY MIDDLE - AGES
THE HOLY SEE
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Echmiatsin lies 15 km
off Yerevan. It’s the oldest Christian church in the world to be
built by the state. It was established in 303 A.D. by king Trdat
III. The Armenians were the 1st nation in the world to
adopt Christianity as a state religion due to great preacher of
Christianity – Gregory The Illuminator. |
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The construction of
the church is connected with St. Gregory’s dream, in which,
according to Armenian historian Agatangeghos, Jesus Christ coming
down from the heaven, struck the ground with a gold hammer, where
St. Gregory built the cathedral. That’s why the church is called “Echmiatsin”-
the descent of the only begotten.
The cathedral is
situated in the old capital of Armenia – Vagharshapat, today
Echmiatsin. From the point of view of architecture it’s a church
with a central cupola and with cross-like shape. The cathedral is
unique and first in its type and served as an example for the temple
of Akhen in Germany, Jerminghneh de Prene in France, San Sediron in
Italy and the monasteries of the Mount Athos in Greece. |
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The Christian churches in Armenia
are unique and peculiar as their style doesn’t belong to any architectural style
spread all over the world. The basis of each church is the symbol of
Christianity - Cross. The cupolas have perfect resemblance to the points of
saint mountain of Armenia – Ararat. Even the monks wear clothing matched both
with national and religious elements.
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The Cathedral of Echmiatsin is
the main sanctuary of Armenia and the seat of the Catholicos of all
Armenians. Today Echmiatsin is considered to be the religious capital of
Armenia, one of the principal sanctuaries of the world and a centre of
pilgrimage.
As to the size of the temple,
it’s quite huge - 22,55 m x 20,72 m . It has three entrances. In the centre
of the praying hall there are rising four huge columns, which are connected
to each other and to opposite walls by arches. The columns form a quadrature
which serves basis for drum and cupola. |
YERERUYK
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The most famous monument of early
Christian Armenia is Yereruyk three-nave basilica. It is 100 km far from
Yerevan to the west.
In its architectural style
Yereruyk is three-nave basilica church, constructed in 5th
century AD 22x33m. In its architecture are joint three styles. The main nave
is constructed in
Syrian early Christian style. The main nave's west facade is very beautiful,
where the high wall is covered harmoniously with the three different windows
of the entrance. From the north and west are constructed two small naves
with columns, which reminds halls with columns of Hellenic architecture. The
main nave rises from the other naves and arch shaped window of the corners
give to the church Armenian breath. |
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The church is constructed on
the six staired stylobata. Near the church was excavated antique water
tunnel of 200m length.
All these are harmonized by
Akhuryan river canyon and by the silence of surrounding mountains. |
KARMRAVOR
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The holy church Karmravor is
situated in the highest part of Ashtarak, a small city near Yerevan, and seems
to dominated over the city, but not because it’s a huge and suppressive
structure. Just vice verse, it’s a small and cozy church and the whole beauty of
the church is in this very simplicity. Alas, the exact date and architect of the
church is unknown. Yet the words on the walls, which are considered to be the
birth-certificate of the church, as well as the architectural peculiarities help
us to guess that it was built in the VII century.
As to its name “Karmravor”
(deriving from the Armenian word “Karmir” meaning – “ red”) it is called so
because the whole construction is built with red “tuff”, which serves the
main building material for Armenia and is typical of this country only
Karmravor is unique in its type, as it is the only church in Armenia, which
has been standing for 14 centuries without any reconstruction and changes.
The entrance of the church is quite simple with no decorations. Over the
entrance there’ s a stone and the word on it tells us about the big rill of
Ashtarak. |
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The church has a shape of a
cross and consists of three apses. From the outside the church is decorated
with ornaments symbolizing eternity. The church houses two ancient and
valuable objects. The first one is a curtain presented to the church in
1709 by the Armenian community living in India and the second one is the
Shukhonts handmade Gospel, which once belonged to the famous Shukhyan
family.
Once church served as a shelter
for the homeless and as a nunnery the last nun of which is Hripsime and is
buried in the burritory of the church. There is also buried Armenian poet Gevorg
Emin.
Near the church there are a lot of
khachkars – cross-stone – typical of Armenian church only. Besides none of this
stone are alike each other.
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AMARAS
Amaras is the ancient and main
Christian monument of Artsakh, founded by Grigor Lusavorich (the Illuminator). In 330 AD Grigor
Lusavorich assigned his grandson Grigoris as a bishop of Artsakh, and by him
started Artsakh Bishops’ race. Amaras monastery is the 2nd main
sanctuary for Armenians after Echmiatsin.
It has been ruined for many times
since 5th century during Vardanants war by the perish. Mesrop
Mashtots founded his second school there.
In 1223 Mongolians captured all the
riches of Amaras, among them were St. Grigoris’s baton and cross with 36
diamonds. As said Orbelyan, the Greek emperor’s daughter Despinea, who was the
wife of Mongolian conqueror, bought that baton and cross and sent it to
Consantinople. Further in 1378 the monastery was ruined by Timur the first.
According to the legend Timur placed his army from the monastery to Araks River
and they passing the blocks threw them into the river. But when they were jus
leaving the monastery was standing as before.
Amaras in its architectural style is
three-tier basilica 13.5x23.2 m the vestry is divided into three naves by two
couples of cross abutments. But the main value of the monastery is St.
Grigoris’s underground mausoleum, which is under the church’s stage. It has 3.7m
height, 3.5m length. The monastery is ram parted by walls of 5m height.
ODZUN
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Odzun church is situated in Odzun
village, in south-west to Yerevan and 160 km far. The church persisted
well in despite of its huge sizes 20.7x31.6m. The date of foundation is
unknown, but researchers think that it belongs to 5th century.
Odzun church is very
interesting: in its architectural style it is a passing period from basilica
to central domed style. In its style Odzun is cupola basilica on the north
and south side it has arcaded promenades, which give an antique look to the
church. |
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But the most interesting, the
only one in Armenia, is Odzun's famous monument – three huge columns ending
with joint arches, on which are covered bas-reliefs of scenes depicting the
propagation of Christianity in Armenia, legends connected with Grigor
Lusavorich, Trdat the 3rd.
Odzun village, where the
church is situated, is the largest in Armenia with 10 000 population and
also has an airport.
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