Saint Karapet Monastery
Encyclopedia
The Saint Karapet Monastery was an Armenian monastic complex
in the Taron Province
of Greater Armenia, about 35 kilometers northwest of Mush, now in the Kurdish village of Chengeli in eastern Turkey
. Founded in the fourth century by Saint Gregory the Illuminator
, it was one of the oldest monasteries in Armenia. The monastery was a stronghold of the Mamikonian
s (the princely house of Taron) who were the holy warriors of Saint Yovhannes Karapet (John the Baptist
), their patron saint.
Saint Karapet Monastery was also one of the three most important sites for Armenian Christian pilgrimage, and among the richest, most ancient institutions in Ottoman Armenia, until it was destroyed to its foundations by Turks after the Armenian Genocide
.
in the Armenian language.
, which was moved from Caesarea, took the place of Demeter and Kisane.
In the book "The Call of plowmen", Khachik Dashtents
describes a winter scene in the monastery.
On November 29, 1893, H. F. B. Lynch
visited Surb Karapet Monastery and later wrote an account of it (along with photographs) in his book Armenia: Travels and Studies first published in 1901.
Revered by both Armenians and Zazas, the monastery was renown for its ability to heal the mentally ill.
, Surb Karapet ceased to exist not only as a spiritual center, but also as an architectural monument. The monastery was blown up by the Turkish army as part of successive Turkish governments' policy of cultural genocide of the Armenian historical monuments in Turkey.
Today what remains of Surb Karapet consists of a few shapeless ruins and carved stones and khachkar
s which have been used as building materials by the current Muslim residents, mostly Kurds, and are often found encrusted in the walls of local homes and structures.
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As shown in the photos of H. F. B. Lynch
from the beginning of twentieth century and published in the book "Armenia. Travel Essays and Studies", the monastery was surrounded by strong walls and was similar to a fortress. On the eastern side of the main cathedral of the monastery were two chapels with polygonal towers and conical roofs, probably more ancient than the main church. The latest construction in the architectural ensemble was the portal to the elegant bell tower, a basis to the origin of the Turkish name of the monastery, "Chanly" (meaning "with a bell tower").
Besides the Church of St. Karapet, the monastery also contained within its walls the martyrium of St. John the Baptist, the chapel of St. Georg, the chapel of St. Stepanos and the church of St. Astvatsatsin. This magnificent example of Armenian architecture has been destroyed to its foundations during the last century.
According to Thierry, the martyrium of the Holy Precursor was probably at first a hall-shaped building with archaic-style cupola, but was later much altered.
s (Taron's princely house) against the Sassanians are recalled by the tombs of Mushegh, of Vahan the Wolf and of Sembat. Near the southern wall reposed the remains of Vahan Kamsarakan.
Armenian Apostolic Church
The Armenian Apostolic Church is the world's oldest National Church, is part of Oriental Orthodoxy, and is one of the most ancient Christian communities. Armenia was the first country to adopt Christianity as its official religion in 301 AD, in establishing this church...
in the Taron Province
Taron (historic Armenia)
Taron was a canton of the Turuberan province of Greater Armenia, now in the Muş Province, Turkey. It was divided into four districts: Mamikonian, Palauni, , Artokh Taron was a canton of the Turuberan province of Greater Armenia, now in the Muş Province, Turkey. It was divided into four districts:...
of Greater Armenia, about 35 kilometers northwest of Mush, now in the Kurdish village of Chengeli in eastern Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
. Founded in the fourth century by Saint Gregory the Illuminator
Gregory the Illuminator
Saint Gregory the Illuminator or Saint Gregory the Enlightener is the patron saint and first official head of the Armenian Apostolic Church...
, it was one of the oldest monasteries in Armenia. The monastery was a stronghold of the Mamikonian
Mamikonian
Mamikonian, Mamikoneans, or Mamigonian was a noble family which dominated Armenian politics between the 4th and 8th century. They ruled the Armenian regions of Taron, Sasun, Bagrevand and others...
s (the princely house of Taron) who were the holy warriors of Saint Yovhannes Karapet (John the Baptist
John the Baptist
John the Baptist was an itinerant preacher and a major religious figure mentioned in the Canonical gospels. He is described in the Gospel of Luke as a relative of Jesus, who led a movement of baptism at the Jordan River...
), their patron saint.
Saint Karapet Monastery was also one of the three most important sites for Armenian Christian pilgrimage, and among the richest, most ancient institutions in Ottoman Armenia, until it was destroyed to its foundations by Turks after the Armenian Genocide
Armenian Genocide
The Armenian Genocide—also known as the Armenian Holocaust, the Armenian Massacres and, by Armenians, as the Great Crime—refers to the deliberate and systematic destruction of the Armenian population of the Ottoman Empire during and just after World War I...
.
Location
The monastery was located on the northern border range of the Mush plain, at an elevation of 6,400 feet, or of 2,200 feet above the trough of the plain.Etymology
Surb means Holy and Karapet means Precursor, which stands for John the BaptistJohn the Baptist
John the Baptist was an itinerant preacher and a major religious figure mentioned in the Canonical gospels. He is described in the Gospel of Luke as a relative of Jesus, who led a movement of baptism at the Jordan River...
in the Armenian language.
Foundation
The monastery of Surb Karapet was founded by Gregory the Illuminator, who reportedly came to Taron to spread Christianity in the area, soon after his famous conversion of King Trdat III. At that time, on the site of the cloister were two heathen temples that were an object of special reverence by a colony of Hindu refugees, who were under the sovereignty of the Armenian kings. They worshipped two colossal brass idols known by the names Demeter and Kisane. The Hindu warriors and their Armenian allies were defeated in two successive battles by the army of Gregory the Illuminator, and their sanctuaries were razed to the ground. In its place Gregory the Illuminator erected a Christian church, and the body of Saint John the BaptistJohn the Baptist
John the Baptist was an itinerant preacher and a major religious figure mentioned in the Canonical gospels. He is described in the Gospel of Luke as a relative of Jesus, who led a movement of baptism at the Jordan River...
, which was moved from Caesarea, took the place of Demeter and Kisane.
Middle ages
In the Middle Ages, the monastery Surb Karapet was not only one of the most revered places of the Armenians, but also a rich agricultural center of the region. It also possessed an extensive library, and was one of the centers of education.Modern period
In the second half of the 19th century, when the Armenians of the Ottoman Empire struggled for independence, the monastery published the "Eagle of Taron" newspaper by Khrimyan Hayrik, the future Catholicos of all Armenians.In the book "The Call of plowmen", Khachik Dashtents
Khachik Dashtents
- Biography :Khachik Dashtents was born in a shepherd's family. After the Armenian Genocide he moved to Yerevan and finished the Yerevan State University , and then the Moscow Institute of Foreign Languages...
describes a winter scene in the monastery.
On November 29, 1893, H. F. B. Lynch
H. F. B. Lynch
Henry Finnis Blosse Lynch, MA, FRGS was a traveller, businessman, and British Liberal Member of Parliament.-Biography:...
visited Surb Karapet Monastery and later wrote an account of it (along with photographs) in his book Armenia: Travels and Studies first published in 1901.
Revered by both Armenians and Zazas, the monastery was renown for its ability to heal the mentally ill.
Current state
At present nothing remains of the former wealth and livelihood of the monastery. After the extermination and expulsion of the Armenians in the Armenian GenocideArmenian Genocide
The Armenian Genocide—also known as the Armenian Holocaust, the Armenian Massacres and, by Armenians, as the Great Crime—refers to the deliberate and systematic destruction of the Armenian population of the Ottoman Empire during and just after World War I...
, Surb Karapet ceased to exist not only as a spiritual center, but also as an architectural monument. The monastery was blown up by the Turkish army as part of successive Turkish governments' policy of cultural genocide of the Armenian historical monuments in Turkey.
Today what remains of Surb Karapet consists of a few shapeless ruins and carved stones and khachkar
Khachkar
A khachkar or khatchkar is a carved, cross-bearing, memorial stele covered with rosettes and other botanical motifs. Khachkars are characteristic of Medieval Christian Armenian art found in Armenia.-Description:...
s which have been used as building materials by the current Muslim residents, mostly Kurds, and are often found encrusted in the walls of local homes and structures.
Complex
H. F. B. Lynch
Henry Finnis Blosse Lynch, MA, FRGS was a traveller, businessman, and British Liberal Member of Parliament.-Biography:...
from the beginning of twentieth century and published in the book "Armenia. Travel Essays and Studies", the monastery was surrounded by strong walls and was similar to a fortress. On the eastern side of the main cathedral of the monastery were two chapels with polygonal towers and conical roofs, probably more ancient than the main church. The latest construction in the architectural ensemble was the portal to the elegant bell tower, a basis to the origin of the Turkish name of the monastery, "Chanly" (meaning "with a bell tower").
Besides the Church of St. Karapet, the monastery also contained within its walls the martyrium of St. John the Baptist, the chapel of St. Georg, the chapel of St. Stepanos and the church of St. Astvatsatsin. This magnificent example of Armenian architecture has been destroyed to its foundations during the last century.
According to Thierry, the martyrium of the Holy Precursor was probably at first a hall-shaped building with archaic-style cupola, but was later much altered.
Burials
The bloody wars fought by the MamikonianMamikonian
Mamikonian, Mamikoneans, or Mamigonian was a noble family which dominated Armenian politics between the 4th and 8th century. They ruled the Armenian regions of Taron, Sasun, Bagrevand and others...
s (Taron's princely house) against the Sassanians are recalled by the tombs of Mushegh, of Vahan the Wolf and of Sembat. Near the southern wall reposed the remains of Vahan Kamsarakan.
External links
- Монастырь Сурб Карапет близ Муша. (includes historical and recent photos)
- Photos of Saint Karapet Monastery from before 1950, in the 1970s, and in 2000 by Research on Armenian ArchitectureResearch on Armenian ArchitectureResearch on Armenian Architecture, sometimes abbreviated to RAA, is an international non-governmental organization that monitors and studies Armenian monuments located outside the borders of the present-day Republic of Armenia, such as in Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iran, Turkey and elsewhere...
- Photos of Saint Karapet Monastery at the Rensselear Digital Collections
- Program about St Karapet Monastery in Mush by Vem Radio