Vanevan Monastery
Encyclopedia
Vanevan Monastery is a monastery located along a gorge south of the village Artsvanist
slightly south-east of Lake Sevan
in the Gegharkunik Province of Armenia
. The main church of Saint Grigor, was built in 903 by Prince Shapuh Bagratuni and his sister Mariam, siblings of King Smbat I
. The church located on the right side (facing the monastery) may have been built around the same time, but the gavit
between the two was added later. Saint Grigor was renovated and restored by King Gagik I of the Bagratid dynasty in the late 10th century. During this restoration a surrounding wall was built.
It has four central arche
s that widen progressively. An addition of a corner course between the arch bands allows this to occur. Vanevan and Tatev
are the earliest such examples of this. Saint Grigor's drum
is octagonal inside and outside with an inscription on the outer portion that dates the church. The drums of both the main church and the church on the left have a decorative molded band that is identical in both churches, leading to the belief that the two churches are contemporaneous. Only the dome
on the main church has survived, while the dome and drum of the church on the right has since collapsed.
Behind the monastery is a spring and cave which leads out to the top of the ravine
. It is said that it was once used as an escape route from Turkish invaders. Headed east up the side of the ravine behind the monastery not too far away is a large but now broken khachkar
monument. Also in the vicinity just south of Artsvanist is an early cemetery and remains of a church. Approximately three kilometers south of this is Kolataki Saint Astvatsatsin Church from the late 9th - early 10th century and Hnevank
from the 10th century. Nearby is also the cyclopean fortress Bruti Berd.
Artsvanist
Artsvanist is a town in the Gegharkunik Province of Armenia. In the gorge south of the village is the early 10th century monastery of Vanevan and large but broken medieval khachkar monument nearby.- References :* – World-Gazetteer.com...
slightly south-east of Lake Sevan
Lake Sevan
Lake Sevan is the largest lake in Armenia and the Caucasus region. It is one of the largest high-altitude lakes in the world.Lake Sevan is situated in the central part of the Republic of Armenia, inside the Gegharkunik Province, at the altitude of 1,900m above sea level...
in the Gegharkunik Province of Armenia
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
. The main church of Saint Grigor, was built in 903 by Prince Shapuh Bagratuni and his sister Mariam, siblings of King Smbat I
Smbat I
Smbat I , known as "the Martyr", was King of Armenia of the Bagratuni dynasty, son of Ashot I and the father of Ashot II Yerkat and Abas I. His rule was a period of unending wars against the Arab conquerors and the rebellious Armenian nobles...
. The church located on the right side (facing the monastery) may have been built around the same time, but the gavit
Gavit
A gavit or zhamatun is often contiguous to the west of a church in a Medieval Armenian monastery. It served as narthex , mausoleum and assembly room.-History:...
between the two was added later. Saint Grigor was renovated and restored by King Gagik I of the Bagratid dynasty in the late 10th century. During this restoration a surrounding wall was built.
It has four central arche
Arche
Arche is a Greek word with primary senses 'beginning', 'origin' or 'first cause' and 'power', 'sovereignty', 'domination' as extended meanings. This list is extended to 'ultimate underlying substance' and 'ultimate undemonstrable principle'...
s that widen progressively. An addition of a corner course between the arch bands allows this to occur. Vanevan and Tatev
Tatev
The Monastery of Tatev is a 9th century Armenian monastery located in the Tatev village in Syunik Province in southern Armenia. The term "Tatev" usually refers to the monastery. It stands on a plateau on the edge of the deep gorge of the Orotan River...
are the earliest such examples of this. Saint Grigor's drum
Tholobate
A tholobate or drum, in architecture, is the upright part of a building on which a dome is raised. It is generally in the shape of a cylinder or a polygonal prism....
is octagonal inside and outside with an inscription on the outer portion that dates the church. The drums of both the main church and the church on the left have a decorative molded band that is identical in both churches, leading to the belief that the two churches are contemporaneous. Only the dome
Dome
A dome is a structural element of architecture that resembles the hollow upper half of a sphere. Dome structures made of various materials have a long architectural lineage extending into prehistory....
on the main church has survived, while the dome and drum of the church on the right has since collapsed.
Behind the monastery is a spring and cave which leads out to the top of the ravine
Ravine
A ravine is a landform narrower than a canyon and is often the product of streamcutting erosion. Ravines are typically classified as larger in scale than gullies, although smaller than valleys. A ravine is generally a fluvial slope landform of relatively steep sides, on the order of twenty to...
. It is said that it was once used as an escape route from Turkish invaders. Headed east up the side of the ravine behind the monastery not too far away is a large but now broken 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:...
monument. Also in the vicinity just south of Artsvanist is an early cemetery and remains of a church. Approximately three kilometers south of this is Kolataki Saint Astvatsatsin Church from the late 9th - early 10th century and Hnevank
Hnevank
Hnevank is a 7th-12th century Armenian Apostolic Church monastery, located near the village of Kurtan in the Lori Province of Armenia. The monastery is situated on a hill within a gorge, near where the Dzoraget and Gargar rivers join....
from the 10th century. Nearby is also the cyclopean fortress Bruti Berd.