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83-551: The Monastery of Tatev has been described as one of the two best-known monasteries in Armenia, along with Noravank in the province of Vayots Dzor . In the 14th and 15th centuries, the monastery hosted one of the most important Armenian medieval universities, the University of Tatev, which contributed to the advancement of science, religion and philosophy, reproduction of books and development of miniature painting . Scholars of

166-476: A khachkar inside the gavit . 1256 - A certain Shatluys donates an orchard to the monastery. 1260 - Bishop Ter-Stepan of Syunik dies and is buried in the monasteries gavit . 1261 - Prince Smbat Orbelian restores the monasteries gavit , perhaps with the aid of Bishop Sargis and architect Siranes. There are two inscriptions on the gavit walls bearing the dates 1232 and 1256: this indicates that there

249-568: A church and connected buildings; there is not trace of this complex left today. 1168 - Bishop Grigoris of Syunik dies and is buried in the monastery. 1170 - Bishop Stepanos, son of Bishop Grigoris, settles in Noravank, choosing it as the seat of the bishopric. Hs is to obtain the Valley of Agarak and fortress of Anapat as donation to the monastery from Mongol Sultan Yelkduz, along with exception from taxes on church property. 1201 - This date

332-547: A gloomy look. The exterior decoration focus' mainly on the western facade where the entrance to the building is. Framed in two rows of trefoils and an inscription, the semi-circular tympanum of the door is filled with an ornament and with a representation of the Holy Virgin seated on a rug with the Child and flanked by two saints. The ornament also has large letters interlaced by shoots with leaves and flowers. The Holy Virgin

415-524: A large number of villages. The earliest references to its foundation are described in Stepanos Orbelian 's History of the Province of Syunik , where Orbelian describes the accord through which Prince Ashot, son of Prince Philipé of Syunik delineated its borders. Soon after the transfer of the lands, peasants of Tsouraberd (present day Svarants), Tamalek, Aveladasht and other villages, rejected

498-577: A library, refectory , bell tower , mausoleum , as well as other administrative and auxiliary buildings. The church of Saints Paul and Peter was built between 895 and 906. An arched hall was added adjacent to the southern wall of the church in 1043. Soon after in 1087, the church of the Holy Mother of God was added along the northern fortifications. In 1295, the church of Saint Gregory the Illuminator, which had been destroyed during an earthquake,

581-580: A modest church following the Christianization of Armenia in the 4th century. Development of the Tatev Monastery began in the 9th century when it became the seat of the bishop of Syunik. In his History of the Province of Syunik , historian Stepanos Orbelian describes the construction of a new church near the old one in 848 through the financial assistance of Prince Philip of Syunik . With the growth of economic and political importance of

664-403: A new khachkar (Armenian cross-stone) instead of the khachkar on the head of the pillar, which is still standing today. With the naked and non-professional eye, one can see that the khachkar, imported later, is a foreign element to the general appearance of the pillar with its shape and dimensions. Khachkar looks like a toy placed on a giant pillar, which will fall anywhere. It is obvious that in

747-658: A pergola as suggested by the background ornament of flowers, fruit and vine leaves. The area is a part of the Gnisheek Prime Butterfly Area and the Noravank Important Bird Area . A wide variety of animals and plants can be found here, such as the Bezoar Goat, Bearded Vulture , Alexanor butterfly, and others. Before the 9th century - According to historian Stepanos Orbelian a church dedicated to St. Pokas stands on

830-582: A university that operated between 1390 and 1434, where instructors were educated and trained not only for the province of Syunik , but also for other regions of Armenia. In the beginning of the 1340s, following the decline of the University of Gladzor , Hovhan Vorotnetsi departed from Vayots Dzor , and arriving in Dzghook, Vorotn, he obtained the blessing and patronage of the Orbelian princes to advance

913-533: Is a monument dedicated to the Holy trinity . It is located to the south of the Cathedral. It comprises a column about eight meters tall crowned with a khachkar -type cross. The column has been dated to the 10th century; the cross is no earlier than the 18th century but its form may be based on an earlier example. Built in the year 906 , this unique structure stands at a total height of 9 meters. What sets Gavazan apart

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996-434: Is an impressive gavit of 1261, decorated with splendid khachkars and with a series of inscribed gravestones in the floor. Note the famous carvings over the outside lintel. The church houses Prince Smbat Orbelian 's mausoleum. The gavit was probably a four-pillar one. In 1321 the building, probably destroyed by an earthquake, was covered with a new roof in the shape of an enormous stone tent with horizontal divisions, imitating

1079-494: Is attributed to its innovative design, particularly its articulated construction at the base of the column. This design allows the monument to maintain a constant angle of 90° to the Earth's surface, ensuring its balance and stability. Over the years, Gavazan has become a symbol of resilience and architectural ingenuity, attracting visitors from around the world to marvel at its unique construction and historical significance. Based on

1162-526: Is decorated with fine geometric carvings. The Holy Mother of God Church or the St. Astvatsatsin Church is located along the northern fortifications of the monastic complex. It was built in 1087 as a second storey to the covered mausoleum near the entrance. It was severely damaged during the earthquake of 1931, but was restored in the late 20th century. The pendulous column or swinging column (Armenian: Գավազան )

1245-412: Is decorated with special splendour. An important role in its decoration is played by the cantilevered stairs that lead to the upper level, with profiled butts to the steps. The doorways are framed with broad rectangular plaitbands, with ledges in the upper part, with columns, fillets and strips of various, mostly geometrical, fine and intricate patterns. Between the outer plathand and the arched framing of

1328-512: Is depicted on three columns of the western part of its rotunda. The picture consisted of relief figures of the Holy Virgin with the Child, sitting on a throne, and two standing men in rich attire, one of them holding a model of the temple. The second church is the Surb Karapet, a cross within square design with restored drum and dome built in 1216–1227, just north of the ruins of the original Surb Karapet, destroyed in an earthquake. The church

1411-458: Is found on a khachkar at the southern entrance of the Church of St. Karapet. 1216 - Bishop Stepanos dies and is buried in the monastery. Father Sargis, his successor, shares the monastery's property with Tatev . 1216-1221 - Prince Liparit Orbelian and Bishop Sargis build a church in the monastery: sources refer to it as the Church of St. Stepanos Noravank (the protomartyr ). 1221 - Bishop Sargis, grandson of Archbishop Stepanos, builds

1494-671: Is identical to the name of the sacred mountain Maratuk in Sason province. The name of the mountain is the supreme oath of the people of Sason. In the 1st millennium BC, the Supreme God of Qajants (Urartu) was also worshiped as the Son of God. In Qajants country the use of a symbol depicting an arrow was also widespread. And most importantly, a huge arrow was placed on the temple of the Son of God. The mythological names of Marduk and Son represent

1577-415: Is its remarkable ability to sway or swing without collapsing, making it the only structure in the complex to have survived the test of time, remaining intact despite centuries of existence. The key purpose of the column is to alert of minor earth tremors and thus giving early warning signals about possible earthquakes. The column returns to its vertical position after it moves. The swaying motion of Gavazan

1660-514: Is one of the best preserved in Armenia and is an excellent illustration of olive presses built in the region during the Middle Ages . The school buildings of the Tatev Monastery characterize the architectural style of monastic educational architecture used in the late medieval period. The church of Saints Paul and Peter is dedicated to the two apostles of Christ. It is also referred to as

1743-471: Is sitting in the Oriental way with Child. The pattern of the rug is visible with drooping tassels. In Syunik temples of the thirteenth-fourteenth centuries the cult of the Holy Virgin was widely spread. She was depicted in relief, and many churches were dedicated to her. The pointed tympanum of the twin window over the door is decorated with a unique relief representation of the large-headed and bearded God

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1826-406: Is the date on a khachkar inside the refectory-hospice that has now partially collapsed. 1271 - A Noravank inscription mentions the name "hovatun" as being a building of unknown purpose. Before 1273 - An inscription reveals that the "prince of princes" Smbat has donated lands and orchards to the monastery. 1273 - King Smbat dies: he was the elder brother of Prince Tarsaich and is buried in

1909-800: The Dominican order and the result of an initiative taken by Pope John XXII to extend the influence of Holy See of Rome onto Asia and to Latinize Greater Armenia . Scholars of Tatev University fought against the proselytizing of the Unitores and sought to diminish their influence on the Armenian Church and people. Following the collapse of the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia in 1375, scholars of Tatev, led by Grigor Tatevatsi and then his followers, especially Tovma Metsobetsi and Hovhannes Hermonetsi played an important role in convincing

1992-568: The Last Judgment , while the northern wall illustrates scenes from the Nativity of Jesus . Little of those decorations survive today. The Saint Gregory Church is adjacent to the southern wall of the Sts. Paul and Peter Cathedral. The church was first built between 836 and 848 with the order and financial support of Prince Philipé of Syunik. It was renovated in the 11th century immediately after

2075-457: The Seljuk campaigns, but was completely destroyed again during the earthquake of 1138. It remained in this condition for more than a century until its reconstruction in 1295. The church of St. Gregory is simple in construction. It does not have a dome. It has three support pillars in its northern and southern walls that bear the arches upon which the inclined roof tiles are installed. Its entrance

2158-490: The 13th–14th centuries the monastery became a residence of Syunik 's bishops and, consequently, a major religious and, later, cultural center of Armenia closely connected with many of the local seats of learning, especially with Gladzor's famed university and library. Noravank was founded in 1105 by Bishop Hovhannes, a former abbot of Vahanavank near the present-day city of Kapan in Syunik . The monastic complex includes

2241-414: The Church of St. Karapet as the burial chapel for the family. According to the historian Stepanos Orbelian , the church was built by the will of Liparit Orbelian , founder of the dynasty, and building work lasted seven years, ending in 1228. A khachkar in the west wall of the gavit is dedicated Nazar and Nazlu. 1222 - A memorial to Vasak, who died of a premature death, is inscribed on a khachkar on

2324-634: The Father with large almond shaped eyes blessing the Crucifix with his right hand and holding in his left hand the head of John the Baptist , with a dove — the Holy Spirit — above it. In the right corner of the tympanum there is a seraph dove; the space between it and the figure of the Father is filled with an inscription. The side chapel of Surb (Saint) Grigor was added by the architect Siranes to

2407-507: The Gavazan (staff). This column was built in the 10th century following the completion of the Paul and Peter church and has survived numerous invasions and earthquakes relatively unscathed. In the 14th century, fortifications were built to the south, west and north of the monastery with buildings for habitation, administration and other purposes. In the 18th century, additions were made to house

2490-597: The God on the basis of whose worship Christianity arose as a sect in the Semitic environment. The worship of this God among Armenians continued until the Christianization of Armenia, Tatev's column was previously a huge teg statue about 8.5m high, which was set up in a complex dedicated to the worship of the Son of God. Tatev Monastery was a feudal organization. It became a prominent and influential monastic centre soon after its foundation, possessing expansive areas of land and

2573-537: The Tatev University contributed to the preservation of Armenian culture and creed during one of its most turbulent periods in its history. The restoration of the monastery, re-establishing its educational legacy and reviving monastic life at Tatev is one of the main goals of Tatev Revival Program, a part of which is the Wings of Tatev aerial tramway, a cableway from Tatev to the village of Halidzor , which

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2656-432: The altar apse is flanked with khachkars and representations of doves in relief. The complex has several surviving khachkars . The most intricate of them all is a 1308 khachkar by Momik. Standing out against the carved background are a large cross over a shield-shaped rosette and salient eight-pointed stars vertically arranged on its sides. The top of the khachkar shows a Deesis scene framed in cinquefoil arches symbolizing

2739-537: The apprentice loses his foothold and falls into the abyss as he calls upon God to grant him wings, which, in Armenian is: "Ta Tev". Tatev Monastery is located in South-East Armenia , in the area of ancient Armenian Syunik , not far from the city of Goris and 280 km away from Yerevan . The Tatev plateau has been in use since pre-Christian times, hosting a pagan temple. The temple was replaced with

2822-552: The assistance of the Orbelian family. Its influence grew further when, in 1286, the Orbelians assumed control of the monastery, Stepanos Orbelian was consecrated metropolitan and succeeded in reuniting a number of surrounding dioceses within its realm. With the establishment of the university in the 14th century Tatev became a principal centre of Armenian culture. During Timur lane 's campaigns into Syunik (1381–1387), Tatev

2905-477: The authorities to repatriate of the supreme patriarchal throne of the Armenian Church from Sis to Etchmiadzin , the original See of Saint Gregory the Illuminator . The effort succeeded in 1441 following the decisions of the National Congress of Etchmiadzin, proving to be one of the most significant events in Armenian history of that century. The prominence of the University began to wane following

2988-603: The authority of the Monastery and began a prolonged struggle against it. Twice the protests transformed into open uprisings and continued, with some interruptions, until 990 when King Vasak of Syunik razed Tsouraberd and dispersed its population . Historians link the uprisings to the Tondrakian Heresy , which appeared in Armenian history at roughly the same time as the peasant uprisings (9th–11th centuries) and which

3071-404: The bishop's residence, cells for the monks, storage, dining hall, kitchen, bakery and winery. Sixteen rectangular classrooms, covered with arched ceilings, were built along the main fortifications. To the northeast of the monastery, outside of the fortifications is the olive press . It has four production rooms including two domed storage rooms and pressing chambers with arched ceilings. This mill

3154-457: The bishopric rights and properties. In 1006, Bishop Hovhannes V succeeded in re-establishing the metropolitan privileges of the diocese. Tatev Monastery has played a notable role in the advancement of cultural life of Armenia . In his History of the Province of Syunik , Stepanos Orbelian describes how the monastery served as the repository for thousands of valuable manuscripts , monastic and official documents and contracts. The Monastery hosted

3237-457: The centre, the aging buildings no longer suited its requirements, and thus Bishop Hovhannes (John) obtained the financial assistance of Prince Ashot of Syunik to construct the new monastery. In the beginning of the 11th century, Tatev hosted around 1,000 monks and a large number of artisans. In 1044, armed forces of neighbouring emirates destroyed the St. Gregory Church and its surrounding buildings, which were reconstructed soon after that. In 1087,

3320-463: The church of S. Karapet, S. Grigor chapel with a vaulted hall, and the church of S. Astvatsatsin (Holy Mother of God). Ruins of various civil buildings and khachkars are found both inside and outside of the compound walls. Noravank was the residence of the Orbelian princes. The architect Siranes and the miniature painter and sculptor Momik worked here in the latter part of the thirteenth and early fourteenth century. The fortress walls surrounding

3403-470: The church of St. Mary was built to the north of the complex. The monastery suffered significant damage during Seljuk invasions in the 12th century and the earthquake in 1136. In 1170, Seljuk Turks plundered the Monastery and burnt some 10,000 manuscripts. The Monastery was rebuilt through the efforts of Bishop Stepanos near the end of the 13th century. The Monastery was granted an exemption from taxes during Mongol rule. It regained its economic strength with

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3486-476: The church of the Apostles or the cathedral. It's likely that this church was built on the location of the old church and also inherited its name. On the western wall of the Church is preserved the dedicational cross-stone installed by Bishop Hovhannes that provides important historical information regarding the construction of the Church. The Saints Paul and Peter Church is the oldest remaining construction within

3569-418: The church walls were decorated with frescoes upon the initiative of Bishop Hakob Dvinetsi. The work was carried out by French artists invited from Constantinople working alongside local Armenian painters. The faces of the main characters have eastern features, and all inscriptions are in Armenian . The eastern apse is decorated with a throned Christ with His disciples and saints. The western wall portrays

3652-423: The complex of the Monastery. It was built with the initiative of Bishop Hovhannes and the financial assistance of reigning Prince Ashot, his wife Princess Shushan and Princes Grigor Supan and Dzagik. The church is a rectangular basilica that extends from west to east. The apse on the east side contains the altar, and is flanked by two depositories; one on either side. The central dome is supported by two pillars on

3735-409: The complex were built in the 17th–18th centuries. The grandest structure is Surb Astvatsatsin (Holy Mother of God), also called Burtelashen (Burtel's construction) in the honour of Prince Burtel Orbelian, its financier. It is situated to the south-east of the Surb Karapet church. Surb Astvatsatsin was completed in 1339, a masterpiece of the talented sculptor and miniaturist Momik , who designed it, and

3818-468: The death of Grigor Tatevatsi . In spite of the dauntless efforts of its new leaders, the political and economic conditions, compounded with the security complications of the period led Tatev to lose its luster and finally ceased to function following the invasions of Shah Rukh in 1434. In 1995, the monasteries of Tatev, Tatevi Anapat and their adjacent areas of the Vorotan Valley were added to

3901-417: The description of Stepanos Orbelyan (1250–1305), who lived about 400 years after the supposed establishment, the construction of the column is dated 904 - 906 . In their valuable survey Ayvazyan and A. Badishyan note that Tatev 's column is close to similar pre-Christian columns in its form and construction methods. It is known that in the 16th century, Arakel archbishop, who was from Syunik , installed

3984-453: The eastern side, while on the west, annexes act as abutments . The roof has a two tiered, inclined style covered with large tiles. The inside and outside walls are covered with hewn stones. The walls and dome have narrow windows that allow the nave to be illuminated. The eastern façade contains niches that are crowned with bas-relief portraits of its benefactors, Prince Ashot and Princess Shushan, each bordered by protective snakes. In 930

4067-463: The educational system at Tatev. Vorotnetsi used his experience from Gladzor to revise the educational plan and to organize the admission and classification of students and instructors. This enabled Tatev to be transformed to a deserving university within a short period of time, attracting students from various regions of Greater Armenia and Cilicia . Vorotnetsi organized the university into three departments – study of Armenian and foreign scriptures,

4150-416: The initial version of the pillar, in place of the khachkar, there was a different emblem compared to the size and nature of the pillar. The column is made of porous bluish basalt, and the current (probably also the former) khachkar is made of tuff rock. Probably, the previous khachkar was more incommeasurable to the appearance of the pillar, which forced Arakel to change it. At the beginning of the 10th century,

4233-538: The khachkar from the top of the Tatev pillar and recall the widespread symbols of the ancient world, then the first thing that will claim to be in the place of the khachkar are the arrow-statues, which archaeologists call phallus type monuments (see figure 1). Starting from the 5th-4th millennia BC, the image of the arrow was widespread in the iconography of the Middle East. Later cuneiform inscriptions testify that it

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4316-514: The leading scientific and cultural centre of the time. Its achievements appear even more significant when they are viewed in context with the turbulent political situation and endless devastations of the period, when the University was occasionally forced to migrate to avoid persecutions from invading forces. Tatev University led the effort to combat the influence of the Fratres Unitores in Armenia . The Unitores were an Armenian branch of

4399-412: The main church, where the builder falls down the abyss while completing the final structure of the dome, and during fall he calls "Ta Tev" meaning - give me wings. Folk legend says that he came down unharmed. where an apprentice secretly climbs to the top of its steeple intending to place a cross of his own design. However, the apprentice is spotted by his master during his descent. Shocked by his discovery,

4482-626: The metropolitan authorities of Tatev through the imposition of Pologenia, and Syunik became part of the Diocese of Yerevan. On 26 April 1921, the 2nd Pan-Zangezurian congress, held in Tatev, announced the independence of the Republic of Mountainous Armenia . The state included the regions of Tatev canyon, Sisian and Gndevaz. The city of Goris became the capital of the unrecognized state with Garegin Nzhdeh as its supreme commander. The monastery

4565-429: The modification of the upper part of the pillar and the installation of the khachkar could be presented as a complete column construction. This is exactly the same phenomenon as building a church on the foundation of pre-Christian worshiping places, turning the monuments of inscriptions of the kings of Qajants country into khachkars. The views expressed about the function of the pillar are unfounded and illogical (checking

4648-442: The monastery of Vahanavank , moves to Noravank and helps to found the first nucleus of monks at the monastery. His brother, Prince Hamtum, then comes to the monastery and helps to develop it. The monastery is to become rich: it will own the two fortresses of Anapat and Hraseka, along with twelve farms. 1154 - Bishop Hovhannes dies and is buried in the monastery. According to the historian Stepanos Orbelian , this bishop had founded

4731-581: The monastery site. 800-900 - A church was built: sources call it St. Karapet's or Church of Svag Khoradzor. The name will later be transformed into Noravank (nor = new, vank = monastery), in 1221. 989 - Hovhannes the Scribe copies a Gospel for the priest Stepanos. It is so called Gospel of Etchmiadzin that contains some miniated pages of an earlier date which are some of the oldest and most famous examples of Armenian miniature art. 1105 - According to historian Stepanos Orbelian Bishop Hovhannes, abbot of

4814-477: The monastery. 1273-1290 - Bishop Sargis builds a hospice close to the monastery and donates various goods to it: the proceeds are used to provide pilgrims with food and drink. 1275 - Prince Tarsaich builds a burial chapel for his brother Smbat and building, the work of architect Siranes, will subsequently house all family tombs. 1277 - A khachkar is erected on the tomb of Prince Mahevan, son of Senekerim, King of Syunik. 1285 - Kukor erects khachkar on

4897-438: The monastery. The monastery is best known for its two-storey Surb Astvatsatsin (Holy Mother of God) Church, which grants access to the second floor by way of a narrow stone-made staircase jutting out from the face of building. The monastery is sometimes called Noravank at Amaghu, with Amaghu being the name of a small and nowadays abandoned village above the canyon, in order to distinguish it from Bgheno-Noravank , near Goris . In

4980-399: The northern wall of Surb Karapet church in 1275. The chapel contains more Orbelian family tombs, including a splendid carved lion/human tombstone dated 1300, covering the grave of Elikum son of Prince Tarsayich Orbelian. The modest structure has a rectangular plan, with a semi-circular altar and a vaulted ceiling on a wall arch. The entrance with an arched tympanum is decorated with columns, and

5063-498: The openings there are representations of doves and sirens with women's crowned heads. Such reliefs were widely used in fourteenth-century Armenian art and in earlier times in architecture, miniatures and works of applied art, on various vessels and bowls. The entrance tympanums are decorated with bas-reliefs showing, on the lower tympanium, the Holy Virgin with the Child and Archangels Gabriel and Michael at her sides, and, on

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5146-412: The region. 1290 - An inscription mentioning the death of the "prince of princes" Tarsaich can be seen at the east entrance of the chapel. 1291 - Amira, grandson of Djurdj, buys an orchard for 4000 pieces of silver and donates it to the monastery. 1292 - The architect-scribe Momik transcribes a beautiful Gospel for the brothers Hovhannes and Tadeos Princess Mina Khatun, daughter of King Djala of

5229-485: The role of abbot. He succeeded in raising the standard of the University to unprecedented heights. During his tenure, Tatev experienced its most dynamic and creative period. Topics of instruction included Armenian literature , interpretation and analysis of the Old and New Testaments, works of the holy fathers, works of Plato , Aristotle , Philo of Alexandria and Porphyry , and their analysis. The University of Tatev became

5312-405: The sound of many horses' stamping with the foot, they must be very close, within visible distance. In short, they are childish explanations. The examples of similar monuments, since prehistoric times show that they mostly had worshiping significance (sometimes they were set up as reminders of memorable historical events). I think that Tatev's column was also religious in its initial significance and

5395-491: The south wall of the gavit . 1223 - A Church of St. Stepanos is consecrated and Prince Bupak donates the village of Aghberis to the monastery to commemorate the occasion. 1223-1261 - A gavit is built in the monastery. 13th century - Khatun, daughter of Khalkhashah, donates 300 pieces of silver and an orchard to the monastery. 1232 - A certain Gorg makes various donations to the monastery. 1240 - This date in on

5478-407: The spiritual-energetic power of clergies, warning of earthquakes or alerting of approaching enemy cavalry). Surely, clergies did not have such spiritual strength to shake the pillar with their thoughts. If the pillar is swung due to an earthquake, it was not a warning, but a fact that an earthquake occurred, which is obvious even to a person far from the pillar. And in order for the column to swing from

5561-417: The study of scriptural arts, and finally, the study of music. The first included the study of humanities and social sciences, philosophy, oration, grammar, literature and history. The second focused on calligraphy , artistic design of books and the painting of miniatures and murals. The third department included ancient music and musicology. Following the death of Vorotnetsi in 1388, Grigor Tatevatsi assumed

5644-523: The tentative list of World Heritage Sites of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization ( UNESCO ). Noravank Noravank ( Armenian : Նորավանք , lit.   ' new monastery ' ) is a 13th-century Armenian monastery, located 122 km from Yerevan in a narrow gorge made by the Amaghu River, near the town of Yeghegnadzor in Armenia . The gorge is known for its tall, sheer, brick-red cliffs , directly across from

5727-412: The tombs of his brother Palka and his mother Aspi. 1287 - Stepanos Orbelian becomes metropolitan of Syunk . He is one of the most prestigious men of culture and politics in medieval Armenia. He is to leave numerous works of poetry and essays on history. He finally succeeds in uniting the monasteries of Tatev and Noravank. 2nd half of 13th century - A bridge is built to connect the monastery with

5810-470: The upper tympanium, a half-length representation of Christ and figures of the Apostles Peter and Paul. As distinct from the reliefs of Noravank's vestry, these ones are carved on a plain surface, which gives them greater independence. The figures are distinguished by their plasticity of form, softness of modeling, and accentuation of certain details of clothing. A group of the founders of Burtelashen

5893-427: The west façade lead to the entrance into the church/oratory. There is fine relief sculpture over the entrance, depicting Christ flanked by Peter and Paul. Burtelashen is a highly artistic monument reminiscent of the tower-like burial structures of the first years of Christianity in Armenia. It is a memorial church. Its ground floor, rectangular in plan, was a family burial vault ; the floor above, cross-shaped in plan,

5976-417: The wooden roof of the hazarashen —type peasant home. This made the structure quite different from other Armenian monuments of the same kind. The ceiling has four rows of brackets forming stalactite vaulting with a square lighting aperture at the top. A broad protruding girth over the half-columns, the deep niches with khachkars and the low tent-like ceiling almost devoid of decoration give the dimly lit interior

6059-563: Was a memorial temple crowned with a multi-columned rotunda. Burtelashen is the dominant structure in Noravank. The original three-tier composition of the building is based on the increasing height of the tiers and the combination of the heavy bottom with the divided middle and the semi-open top. Accordingly, decoration is more modest at the bottom and richer at the top. Employed as decorative elements are columns, small arches, profiled braces forming crosses of various shapes, medallions, interlaced banding around windows and doors. The western portal

6142-455: Was also his last work. Near the church there is his tomb khachkar, small and modestly decorated, dated the same year. In recent times the fallen roof had been covered with a plain hipped roof. In 1997 the drum and its conical roof was rebuilt, with the form based on existing fragments. However, it has been criticized as being a "fantasy reconstruction". The ground floor contained elaborate tombs of Burtel and his family. Narrow steps projecting from

6225-583: Was also suppressed around the same time. The Tatev bishopric owned 47 villages and received tithes from 677 other villages. It gained such economic power that in 940–950 Bishop Hakob attempted to secede from the Mother See of Etchmiadzin . His separatist dreams were dashed when Catholicos Anania Mokatsi anathematized him. Surrounding regions benefited from Tatev's weakened position, rejected its supremacy and established their own dioceses. In 958, Bishop Vahan (later Catholicos Vahan Syunetsi) recovered some of

6308-406: Was built by the decree of Prince Liparit Orbelian . In 1340 an earthquake destroyed the dome of the church which in 1361 was reconstructed by the architect Siranes. In 1931 the dome was damaged during another earthquake. In 1949, the roof and the walls of the church were repaired. In 1998 the roof and drum was rebuilt with the aid of an Armenian-Canadian family. Forming the western antechamber

6391-399: Was looted, burnt, and dispossessed of a significant portion of its territories. The Monastery received an additional blow during Shah Rukh's invasion in 1434. The monastery was reborn in the 17th and 18th centuries; its structures restored and new ones were added. It was looted again during the incursions of Persian forces led by Aga Mahmet Khan in 1796. In 1836, Czarist Russia put an end to

6474-594: Was opened in October 2010. It was included in the Guinness World Records as world's "longest non-stop double track cable car." According to tradition, Tatev Monastery is named after Eustateus, a disciple of St. Thaddeus the Apostle , who preached and was martyred in this region. His name has evolved to Tatev. Folk etymology includes a legend telling of an event that is tied to the construction of

6557-426: Was previously another building on the site, and its stones were used for the gavit . In this same year, Prince Smbat donates various goods to the monastery for the salvation of the soul of his brother, Prince Burtel. Near the khachkar in the gavit there is another, erected in memory of Burtel, son of Elikum, grandson of Liparit. Another khachkar recalls Burtel, son of "prince of princes" Smbat. 1270-1290 - This

6640-441: Was replaced with a new one through the initiative of then bishop Stepanos Orbelian . In 1787, the mausoleum of the Armenian theologian Gregory of Tatev was built adjacent to the western wall of the Church of Saint Gregory and by the end of 19th century a vestibule and a belfry were added at the western entrance of the church of Saints Paul and Peter. Aside from the buildings, the monastery boasts an upright pendulum , known as

6723-416: Was seriously damaged after an earthquake in 1931 , the dome of the Sts. Paul and Peter church and the bell tower were destroyed. In the latter years the Sts. Paul and Peter church was reconstructed, but the bell tower remains destroyed up to today. The fortified Tatev monastery consists of three churches - Saints Paul and Peter Church, Saint Gregory the Illuminator's Church, and the Holy Mother of God Church,

6806-431: Was set up in pre-Christian times. The top part of it was modified, a khachkar was erected on it, it was turned into a Christian structure and with that the original meaning of the structure was obscured and forgotten. It is very likely that the top part of the column fell and broke during the devastating Moz earthquake in the 8th century and caused the top of the column to be modified and Christianized. If we mentally remove

6889-503: Was the ideogram of an adverb in the name of Marduk , the eldest son of the Armenian God. Marduk was worshiped as the Son of God and was the supreme God of Babylon . Marduk was always represented on the momuments of Qajants (2nd millennium BC) with the image of a dart on a bagin or only a dart. One of Marduk's titles is marked with a symbol depicting a cross. Marduk is one of about 70 names of Marduk attested in cuneiform sources, which

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