Vahanavank
Encyclopedia
Vahanavank is a 10th-11th century monastic complex located approximately 5 kilometers southwest of the town of Kapan
in the Syunik Province of Armenia
, situated at the foot of Tigranasar mountain along the right bank of the Voghdji River
.
The monastery was founded by Prince Vahan Nakhashinogh (of which it gets its namesake), the son of Prince Gagik of Kapan in the early 10th century. The Armenian historian Stepanos Orbelian
(c. 1250 – 1305) wrote that the prince had taken on a monk's robe and lifestyle to cure himself of demonic possession. In the year 911, Prince Vahan gathered 100 like-minded clerics and built the church of Surb Grigor Lusavorich
. It is the oldest among the structures at Vahanavank. The church is a domed hall like building with a main temple and a pair of sacristies. The drum rises on huge steeple rocks. The church has a west and south entrance. Prince Vahan was buried near the door to the church.
A spiritual school was opened at the monastery where young boys from Baghk and other provinces studied. Prince Vahan Nakhashinogh's nephew Vahan Jevanshir II, was educated at the monastery and rose to become the Bishop of Syunik around 940 and then Catholicos
around the year 960. During his reign he built many great monuments, many of which remain in ruins.
The vestibule and portico first half of the 10th century. The latter stretches to the south of the church and the narthex. Kings and princes of Syunik are buried here. The cornice
s of the vestibule are decorated with vegetal and animal ornamental motives which border the southern and northern walls.
Vahanavank became the religious center for the kings of Syunik in the 11th century. In 1086, Queen Shahandukht II of Syunik and her sister Katan built the church of Surb Astvatsatsin as a burial site for her and her relatives. They also constructed the southern entrance to the monastery as well as the vestibule to S. Astvatsatsin.
There are other structures, household buildings, khachkars and tombstones that date back to the 10th –11th centuries as well.
In 1978 restoration efforts began at the monastery and in 1990 they ended before their completion.
Kapan
-Notable landmarks:*Vahanavank monastery*Baghaberd and Halidzor Fortresses.*Tatev Monastery - This monastery, situated northwest of Kapan was founded in the ninth century in the place of an ancient tabernacle well-known in ancient times...
in the Syunik Province of Armenia
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
, situated at the foot of Tigranasar mountain along the right bank of the Voghdji River
Voghdji River
Voghdji is a river on the south slopes of the Lesser Caucasus range, and is a left tributary of Araks River. It flows over the territory of Armenia and Azerbaijan....
.
The monastery was founded by Prince Vahan Nakhashinogh (of which it gets its namesake), the son of Prince Gagik of Kapan in the early 10th century. The Armenian historian Stepanos Orbelian
Stepanos Orbelian
Stepanos Orbelian was a thirteenth century Armenian historian and the Metropolitan of the province of Syunik. He is known for writing his well-researched Patmut'yun Nahangin Sisakan, or History of the Province of Syunik.-Biography:...
(c. 1250 – 1305) wrote that the prince had taken on a monk's robe and lifestyle to cure himself of demonic possession. In the year 911, Prince Vahan gathered 100 like-minded clerics and built the church of Surb Grigor Lusavorich
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 is the oldest among the structures at Vahanavank. The church is a domed hall like building with a main temple and a pair of sacristies. The drum rises on huge steeple rocks. The church has a west and south entrance. Prince Vahan was buried near the door to the church.
A spiritual school was opened at the monastery where young boys from Baghk and other provinces studied. Prince Vahan Nakhashinogh's nephew Vahan Jevanshir II, was educated at the monastery and rose to become the Bishop of Syunik around 940 and then Catholicos
Catholicos
Catholicos, plural Catholicoi, is a title used for the head of certain churches in some Eastern Christian traditions. The title implies autocephaly and in some cases is borne by the designated head of an autonomous church, in which case the holder might have other titles such as Patriarch...
around the year 960. During his reign he built many great monuments, many of which remain in ruins.
The vestibule and portico first half of the 10th century. The latter stretches to the south of the church and the narthex. Kings and princes of Syunik are buried here. The cornice
Cornice
Cornice molding is generally any horizontal decorative molding that crowns any building or furniture element: the cornice over a door or window, for instance, or the cornice around the edge of a pedestal. A simple cornice may be formed just with a crown molding.The function of the projecting...
s of the vestibule are decorated with vegetal and animal ornamental motives which border the southern and northern walls.
Vahanavank became the religious center for the kings of Syunik in the 11th century. In 1086, Queen Shahandukht II of Syunik and her sister Katan built the church of Surb Astvatsatsin as a burial site for her and her relatives. They also constructed the southern entrance to the monastery as well as the vestibule to S. Astvatsatsin.
There are other structures, household buildings, khachkars and tombstones that date back to the 10th –11th centuries as well.
In 1978 restoration efforts began at the monastery and in 1990 they ended before their completion.