Nor Varagavank
Encyclopedia
Nor Varagavank is a 13th century Armenian Apostolic Church
monastic ensemble situated 3.5 km southwest of the village Varagavan
in the Tavush Province of Armenia. The monastery is situated upon a high hill and is surrounded by forested mountains and picturesque ravines.
of northern Armenia
in 1193-1198 and expanded by his grandson Vasak II in 1234-1237. The Kyurikians were a junior branch of Armenia’s aristocratic Bagratuni family, whose domain, known as the Kingdom of Tashir-Dzoraget
, spanned medieval Armenia’s provinces of Gugark
, Artsakh
and Utik
. The monastery was center of a bishopric, and played an important role in the ecclesiastical life of medieval Armenia. The monastery also served as Kyurikian’s family burial vault and mausoleum.
In early sources the monastic ensemble was called Anapat (hermitage). It was renamed Nor Varagavank (meaning “New Varagavank”) when Vaspurakan
's famed Varagavank
monastery in Western Armenia
near the Lake Van
was threatened by the Mongols. Varagavank’s Patriarch Ghukas brought to Anapat holy relics from Vaspurakan in 1213, such as a piece of the True Cross brought to Armenia by the holy virgins Rhipsime
and Gayane.
Тhe most important structure of the complex is the church of the Holy Virgin. According to the inscriptions on its walls and information provided by the Armenian 13th century historian Kirakos Gandzaketsi
, it was built in 1224-1237 by David's grandson Vasak II Kyurikian, and was consecrated in 1240. The church of the Holy Virgin was designed by the architect Gazan who came from the Armenian capital city of Ani
. The church is rectangular from the outside (10.25 m x 15.40 m) and cruciform from the inside. The church has two entrances. The western entrance differs by its magnificent reliefs carved on multi-colored stones of the walls.
The Surb Nshan (Holy Sign) chapel is situated in the southeastern part of the monastic complex. It is the most ancient structure of the ensemble. The chapel has two apses. It also had a vaulted gabled roof, which has not been preserved. On both sides of the western entry stand two splendidly ornamented khachkars. The apses are illuminated by two windows on the eastern façade. They are joined by common belt, with relief images of animals and stylized vegetable decor.
Superbly-carved medieval khachkars can be found in various parts of the complex. Especially noteworthy among them is a big khachkar
standing near the vestibule of the church of the Holy Virgin. It was created by master Vardan in 1620.
Nor Varagavank is known to have hosted Archbishop Hovhanes Tvetsi, an important Armenian religious and cultural figure of the 13th century who built the main the Holy Virgin church’s narthex between 1237 and 1261. In the beginning of the 19th century, the monastery was headed by Grigor Manucharian, who in 1804-1828, together with a detachment of armed volunteers under his command, took an active part in freeing Eastern Armenia from foreign rule.
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...
monastic ensemble situated 3.5 km southwest of the village Varagavan
Varagavan
Varagavan is a town in the Tavush Province of Armenia....
in the Tavush Province of Armenia. The monastery is situated upon a high hill and is surrounded by forested mountains and picturesque ravines.
History and Architecture
The monastic complex was established by King David II KyurikianDavid II of Lori
David II succeeded his father to the throne of the Kingdom of Lori. He ruled with his brother Abbas I. Faced with expansion of Seljuq Turks and Bagratid Georgians, he transferred his capital to Matsnaberd in 1111, where he ruled till 1118....
of northern Armenia
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
in 1193-1198 and expanded by his grandson Vasak II in 1234-1237. The Kyurikians were a junior branch of Armenia’s aristocratic Bagratuni family, whose domain, known as the Kingdom of Tashir-Dzoraget
Kingdom of Lori
Kingdom of Lori alternatively known as the Kingdom of Tashir-Dzoraget or Kingdom of Albania, was an Armenian kingdom formed during the breakup of Bagratuni Armenia. The kingdom encompassed territories of modern-day Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia....
, spanned medieval Armenia’s provinces of Gugark
Gugark
Gugark was the 13th province of Greater Armenia. It now comprises parts of northern Armenia, northeast Turkey, and southwest Georgia.-History:...
, Artsakh
Artsakh
Artsakh was the tenth province of the Kingdom of Armenia from 189 BC until 387 AD and afterwards a region of Caucasian Albania from 387 to the 7th century. From the 7th to 9th centuries, it fell under Arab control...
and Utik
Utik
Utik was a historic province of the Kingdom of Armenia and a region of Caucasian Albania. Most of the region is located within present-day Azerbaijan immediately west of the Kura River while a part of it lies within the Tavush province of present-day northeastern Armenia.-History:According to...
. The monastery was center of a bishopric, and played an important role in the ecclesiastical life of medieval Armenia. The monastery also served as Kyurikian’s family burial vault and mausoleum.
In early sources the monastic ensemble was called Anapat (hermitage). It was renamed Nor Varagavank (meaning “New Varagavank”) when 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...
's famed Varagavank
Varagavank
Varagavank , 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....
monastery in Western Armenia
Western Armenia
Western Armenia is a term, primarily used by Armenians, to refer to Armenian-inhabited areas of the Armenian Highland that were part of the Ottoman Empire and now are part of the Republic of Turkey....
near the 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...
was threatened by the Mongols. Varagavank’s Patriarch Ghukas brought to Anapat holy relics from Vaspurakan in 1213, such as a piece of the True Cross brought to Armenia by the holy virgins Rhipsime
Rhipsime
Rhipsime, sometimes called Hripsime , Ripsime, Ripsima or Arsema was an Armenian virgin and martyr of Roman origin. She and her companions in martyrdom are venerated as the first Christian martyrs of Armenia....
and Gayane.
Тhe most important structure of the complex is the church of the Holy Virgin. According to the inscriptions on its walls and information provided by the Armenian 13th century historian Kirakos Gandzaketsi
Kirakos Gandzaketsi
Kirakos of Gandzak was an Armenian historian of the 13th century and author of the History of Armenia, a summary of events from the 4th to the 12th century and a detailed description of the events of his own days. The work concentrates primarily on the history of Medieval Armenia and events...
, it was built in 1224-1237 by David's grandson Vasak II Kyurikian, and was consecrated in 1240. The church of the Holy Virgin was designed by the architect Gazan who came from the Armenian capital city of Ani
Ani
Ani is a ruined and uninhabited medieval Armenian city-site situated in the Turkish province of Kars, near the border with Armenia. It was once the capital of a medieval Armenian kingdom that covered much of present day Armenia and eastern Turkey...
. The church is rectangular from the outside (10.25 m x 15.40 m) and cruciform from the inside. The church has two entrances. The western entrance differs by its magnificent reliefs carved on multi-colored stones of the walls.
The Surb Nshan (Holy Sign) chapel is situated in the southeastern part of the monastic complex. It is the most ancient structure of the ensemble. The chapel has two apses. It also had a vaulted gabled roof, which has not been preserved. On both sides of the western entry stand two splendidly ornamented khachkars. The apses are illuminated by two windows on the eastern façade. They are joined by common belt, with relief images of animals and stylized vegetable decor.
Superbly-carved medieval khachkars can be found in various parts of the complex. Especially noteworthy among them is a big 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:...
standing near the vestibule of the church of the Holy Virgin. It was created by master Vardan in 1620.
Nor Varagavank is known to have hosted Archbishop Hovhanes Tvetsi, an important Armenian religious and cultural figure of the 13th century who built the main the Holy Virgin church’s narthex between 1237 and 1261. In the beginning of the 19th century, the monastery was headed by Grigor Manucharian, who in 1804-1828, together with a detachment of armed volunteers under his command, took an active part in freeing Eastern Armenia from foreign rule.