Medieval Monasteries of Haghpat and Sanahin

The medieval monasteries of Haghpat and Sanahin are a sequence of properties located in Armenia’s Lori Marz. From the 10th through the 13th century, each new structure’s functional purpose, location, and architectural aspects were considered during construction. Consequently, an unbalanced but volumetrically balanced, harmonic and connected complex was created, one that complements the gorgeous surroundings. The two monasteries constitute the pinnacle of Armenian ecclesiastical construction between the tenth and thirteenth centuries. This distinct style evolved from a fusion of features of Byzantine religious architecture with the traditional Caucasus vernacular building. There are several medieval monasteries; Geghard is one of them.

About Monasteries of Haghpat and Sanahin

These two Byzantine medieval monasteries in the Tumanian area were prominent study centres throughout the Kiurikian dynasty’s reign (10th to 13th century). Sanahin was well-known for its illuminator and calligraphy school.

The Haghpat Monastery, originated in AD 976 by Queen Khosrovanush, consists of one narthex, a scriptorium, two corridor-sepulchres, the Chapel of Hamazasp, a refectory, a belfry, cross-stones (khachkars), and several chapel-tombs, all surrounded by a towering rampart.

The appeals to it were observed from the Kayanberd Fortress, precisely assembled in the 13th century. The oldest formation on the site, St Nshan Church, was built between AD 976 and 991.

The cathedral is a rectangular vault structure with a cross-shaped interior, somewhat stretched from east to west. The central vault is supported by four enormous pillars built into the side panels. The church is an absolute and glorious example of the new artistic inclination of Armenian architecture in the 10th and 11th centuries, distinguished by its integrated interior and large commanding dome. The earliest fresco layer in the central cavity has survived, with its primary configuration of Jesus enthroned. 

The church is fringed to the west by the narthex, which has a remarkable interior configuration erected by Princess Mariam in the second decennary of the 13th century. The narthex is a magnificent piece of an Armenian medieval monastery. The roof vault is carried by crossing bridges supported by two columns, lighting the structure’s interior.

What is a Medieval Monastery?

A medieval monastery was a secluded, sometimes distant community of monks directed by an abbot who avoided worldly possessions to live a simple life of meditation and devotion. Christian monasteries originally appeared in Egypt and Syria in the fourth century, and by the fifth century, the concept had spread to Western Europe.

Saint Benedict of Nursia, the founder of the Benedictine order, created norms for monks to follow, replicated and obeyed to varying degrees in later centuries, including in those medieval monasteries that still exist today. Although its monks were impoverished, the monasteries were wealthy and powerful organisations, amassing fortune via donations of land and property.

Monasteries were also important to study centres, educating the young and, perhaps most importantly for historians today, laboriously producing books and preserving historical manuscripts that have vastly enriched our knowledge of the medieval world and classical antiquity.

The Medieval Monastery of Geghard

Geghard is in Armenia’s Kotayk region, is a medieval monastery partially carved out of the adjacent mountain and surrounded by cliffs. It has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site with extra protection.

While the main chapel was erected in 1215, the Illuminator Gregory founded the monastery complex in the 4th century at the site of a miraculous spring within a cave. As a result, the monastery was initially known as Ayrivank, which means “Monastery of the Cave.” The name Geghard signifies “the Monastery of the Weapon,” taken from the spear that purportedly injured Jesus at the execution and was dispatched to Armenia by Apostle Jude, known as Thaddeus and kept amid many other artefacts. It is now on display in the Echmiadzin treasury.

The majestic towering cliffs surrounding the monastery are a portion of the Azat River canyon and are included as a World Heritage Site with the monastery. Some churches within the monastery complex are excavated entirely from the cliff rocks, while others are barely more than caves. Still, others are ornate buildings with architecturally complex walled parts and chambers deep within the cliff. The combination, together with countless engraved and free-standing khachkars, is a one-of-a-kind sight and one of Armenia’s most popular tourist locations.

Most visitors to Geghard also go to the adjacent pagan Temple of Garni, located lower down the Azat River. 

Conclusion:

Abbot Hamazasp’s structure, built to the north of the main church in 1257, has a square plan and a domed roof supported by four central pillars, with a hole in the ceiling to enable smoke to leave and light to enter. It is the complex’s most prominent example of this architectural style. On the east, a tiny vaulted chapel adjoins the narthex. At the same time, the scriptorium is close to the southern section of the eastern wall and was completely rebuilt in the 13th century. The narthex is a magnificent piece of an Armenian medieval monastery.