Bagavan
Encyclopedia
Bagavan was an ancient Armenian church-city complex situated in the south-east of nowadays Ağrı Province
in eastern part of modern Turkey
. It was a well known settlement of pagan and later medieval Armenia
because of a huge monastic complex in it called St. Hovhannes Mkrtich (St. John Babtist's) Monastery of Bagavan, .
province of Historical Armenia's Ayrarat
region.
Founded in pagan Armenia as a religious center also there were graves of pre-Christian Armenia's rulers. Here in the waters of Aratsani (Eastern Euphrates) river in 314 the Baptism
of King Tiridates III of Armenia
by Gregory Illuminator took place, thus becoming the first Christian King of Armenia and marked the start of a Christian
medieval Kingdom of Armenia
. The Armenian Apostolic Church
as a separate independent Christian denomination
emerged later. After that, this place was marked by a huge number of crosses engraved in the riverside rocks and pagan temple was reconstructed as a monastery. In the nearby slopes of mount Npat dozen of chapels standed and praying places of famous Catholicos Nerses the Great (second half of the 4th century). Therefrom he watched of a Dzirav's battle between Armenians and Persians. Monastery has a three churches and its most famous bishops were Yeznik Koghbatsi and Movses Khorenatsi
while it becomes the main monastery of a whole Bagrevand
and Arsharunik
districts. Final phase of constructing ended in 639. The church is 46 meters in length, 27 meters in width and 20 meters in height (with dimensions comparable with the Armenian Apostolic churches of Dvin
, Zvartnots
and Talin
). Outward appearance of the temple made of strict shaped masonries and ornaments contrasted with the well brighted interior and people of 19th century associated that monastery's appearance with the Hagia Sophia
in Constantinople
(now Istanbul
). The monastery had 5 doors and 51 windows. During Russo-Persian wars in 1877-1878 it was damaged, but then reconstructed and was functioning until Armenian Genocide
in 1915. In the beginning of 20th century the monastery was also known in "" "Three Churches". It was completely destroyed sometime between 1923 and 1950 by the Turkish Army
along with other Armenian monasteries in eastern Turkey.
, the monastery was heavily destroyed.
Agri Province
The Ağrı Province is a province in eastern Turkey, bordering Iran to the east, Kars to the North, Erzurum to the Northwest, Muş and Bitlis to the Southwest, Van to the south, and Iğdır to the northeast. Area 11,376 km². Population 542,022 ....
in eastern part of modern 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...
. It was a well known settlement of pagan and later medieval Armenia
Medieval Armenia
-Prelude:Western Armenia had been under Byzantine control since the partition of the Kingdom of Armenia in AD 387, while Eastern Armenia had been under the occupation of the Sassanid Empire starting 428. Regardless of religious disputes, many Armenians became successful in the Byzantine Empire and...
because of a huge monastic complex in it called St. Hovhannes Mkrtich (St. John Babtist's) Monastery of Bagavan, .
Meaning
Name BAGAVAN consists of words Bagi meaning: idol and avan meaning: city.History
Situated in south east of BagrevandBagrevand
Bagrevand was a region of the old Armenia ruled first by Mamikonians and then by the Bagratuni family....
province of Historical Armenia's Ayrarat
Ayrarat
Ayrarat was a province of old Armenia . The main city was Oshakan. It is believed that the name Ayrarat is the Armenian equivalent of the toponym Urartu ....
region.
Founded in pagan Armenia as a religious center also there were graves of pre-Christian Armenia's rulers. Here in the waters of Aratsani (Eastern Euphrates) river in 314 the Baptism
Baptism
In Christianity, baptism is for the majority the rite of admission , almost invariably with the use of water, into the Christian Church generally and also membership of a particular church tradition...
of King Tiridates III of Armenia
Tiridates III of Armenia
Tiridates III or Diritades III was the king of Arsacid Armenia , and is also known as Tiridates the Great ; some scholars incorrectly refer to him as Tiridates IV as a result of the fact that Tiridates I of Armenia reigned twice)...
by Gregory Illuminator took place, thus becoming the first Christian King of Armenia and marked the start of a Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
medieval Kingdom of Armenia
Medieval Armenia
-Prelude:Western Armenia had been under Byzantine control since the partition of the Kingdom of Armenia in AD 387, while Eastern Armenia had been under the occupation of the Sassanid Empire starting 428. Regardless of religious disputes, many Armenians became successful in the Byzantine Empire and...
. The Armenian Apostolic Church
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...
as a separate independent Christian denomination
Christian denomination
A Christian denomination is an identifiable religious body under a common name, structure, and doctrine within Christianity. In the Orthodox tradition, Churches are divided often along ethnic and linguistic lines, into separate churches and traditions. Technically, divisions between one group and...
emerged later. After that, this place was marked by a huge number of crosses engraved in the riverside rocks and pagan temple was reconstructed as a monastery. In the nearby slopes of mount Npat dozen of chapels standed and praying places of famous Catholicos Nerses the Great (second half of the 4th century). Therefrom he watched of a Dzirav's battle between Armenians and Persians. Monastery has a three churches and its most famous bishops were Yeznik Koghbatsi and Movses Khorenatsi
Movses Khorenatsi
Moses of Chorene, also Moses of Khoren, Moses Chorenensis, or Movses Khorenatsi , or a 7th to 9th century date) was an Armenian historian, and author of the History of Armenia....
while it becomes the main monastery of a whole Bagrevand
Bagrevand
Bagrevand was a region of the old Armenia ruled first by Mamikonians and then by the Bagratuni family....
and Arsharunik
Arsharunik
Arsharunik was a historical district in Armenia, part of the province of Ayrarat, north of the river Araxes. Earlier in its history, the area was known as Eraskhadzor, and the important castle of Artagerk was located there....
districts. Final phase of constructing ended in 639. The church is 46 meters in length, 27 meters in width and 20 meters in height (with dimensions comparable with the Armenian Apostolic churches of Dvin
Dvin
Dvin was a large commercial city and the capital of early medieval Armenia. It was situated north of the previous ancient capital of Armenia, the city of Artaxata, along the banks of the Metsamor River, 35 km to the south of modern Yerevan...
, Zvartnots
Zvartnots Cathedral
Zvartnots Cathedral are the ruins of a seventh century centrally-planned aisled tetraconch type Armenian cathedral built by order of the Catholicos Nerses the Builder from 641-653...
and Talin
Talin
Talin is a town in the Aragatsotn province of Armenia. It has a population of 5,371. The seventh century Talin Cathedral is located in the town.- History :...
). Outward appearance of the temple made of strict shaped masonries and ornaments contrasted with the well brighted interior and people of 19th century associated that monastery's appearance with the Hagia Sophia
Hagia Sophia
Hagia Sophia is a former Orthodox patriarchal basilica, later a mosque, and now a museum in Istanbul, Turkey...
in Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
(now Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
). The monastery had 5 doors and 51 windows. During Russo-Persian wars in 1877-1878 it was damaged, but then reconstructed and was functioning until 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...
in 1915. In the beginning of 20th century the monastery was also known in "" "Three Churches". It was completely destroyed sometime between 1923 and 1950 by the Turkish Army
Turkish Army
The Turkish Army or Turkish Land Forces is the main branch of the Turkish Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. The modern history of the army began with its formation after the collapse of the Ottoman Empire...
along with other Armenian monasteries in eastern Turkey.
Current condition
At an unknown date after 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...
, the monastery was heavily destroyed.