Narekavank
Encyclopedia
Narekavank) was a tenth century Armenian monastery
in the Vaspurakan
province of historical Armenia near the southern shores of Lake Van
(now in the Eastern Anatolia region
of Turkey
). It was founded during the reign of King Gagik I (908-943) of the kingdom of Vaspurakan. The monastery was an important intellectual center whose most famous pupil was Gregory of Narek
.
The monastery ceased to function in 1915, during the Armenian Genocide
, and was later completely demolished. The Kurdish-populated village of Yemişlik grew up on the site, and a mosque now stands where the monastery once stood.
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 Vaspurakan
Vaspurakan
Vaspurakan was the first and biggest province of Greater Armenia, which later became an independent kingdom during the Middle Ages, centered around Lake Van...
province of historical Armenia near the southern shores of Lake Van
Lake Van
Lake Van is the largest lake in Turkey, located in the far east of the country in Van district. It is a saline and soda lake, receiving water from numerous small streams that descend from the surrounding mountains. Lake Van is one of the world's largest endorheic lakes . The original outlet from...
(now in the Eastern Anatolia region
Eastern Anatolia Region
The Eastern Anatolia Region is one of seven non-administrative subdivisions of Turkey and encompasses its eastern provinces.The region and the name "Doğu Anadolu Bölgesi" were first defined at the First Geography Congress in 1941. It has the highest average altitude, largest geographical area, and...
of 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 founded during the reign of King Gagik I (908-943) of the kingdom of Vaspurakan. The monastery was an important intellectual center whose most famous pupil was Gregory of Narek
Gregory of Narek
Grigor Narekatsi is a canonized saint. He was an Armenian monk, poet, mystical philosopher and theologian, born into a family of writers. His father, Khosrov, was an archbishop...
.
The monastery ceased to function in 1915, during 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...
, and was later completely demolished. The Kurdish-populated village of Yemişlik grew up on the site, and a mosque now stands where the monastery once stood.
See also
- Aghtamar, an island 10km northeast on which the contemporaneous Palatine Cathedral of the Holy Cross was constructed by the same king
- VaragavankVaragavankVaragavank , also known as Yedi Kilise , was a prominent Armenian monastery founded in the 11th century on the slopes of Mount Varag 9 km east of the city of Van in Turkey's Eastern Anatolia region....