Horomos

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The monastery complex from the north-east, around 1911. In front the older part with three dilapidated churches, in the background the monastery of St. Johannes auf der Höhe.
Monastery church 1901
The tomb of King Ashot III, 1902

The Monastery of Horomos ( Armenian Հոռոմոս , Turkish Horomos manastırı , also Koschavank ) is a ruinous Armenian monastery complex from the 10th century, about 15 km northeast of Ani in the central district of the Turkish province of Kars near the Armenian border. The monastery has two structures. The main part lies on a kind of peninsula high above the river Achurjan ( Turkish Arpaçay ), the older and probably original in the valley on a hill in the middle of a dried up river loop.

history

Horomos was one of the most important religious and cultural centers within the Kingdom of Ani and was built by the architect Hovhannes during the reign of King Abas I (943–953). In the 11th century was south of the original system by King Hovhannes-Smbat III. (1020-1040) the second complex was built, including the Church of St. John on the Height (1038).

At the end of the Middle Ages, the monastic settlement fell out of sight. The monastery was settled again in the 17th century, renewed in 1695 by the wardapet Daniel von Tigranakert (today Silvan in the province of Diyarbakır ) and in 1788 by Bishop Hovhannes von Schamb (in Sjunik ). From 1800 to 1807 the monks of Echmiadzin found refuge here. Construction work was carried out by Vardan von Odzun in 1852 and from 1868–1871 by Wardapet Grigor. During the Russian period a village was built near the monastery and Horomos became the seat of the Armenian bishop of Kars . The monastery remained active until the reincorporation of the eastern area of ​​the Democratic Republic of Armenia into Turkey (1920).

From 1965, the Horomos Monastery was gradually destroyed as part of the Turkish government's policy of cultural genocide . The grave of King Aschot III, which was preserved until 1920 . (953–977) can no longer be found. Some buildings have completely disappeared. The dome of St. John's Church collapsed in the 1970s.

In contrast to the cathedral of Kars , an access permit is not granted.

literature

  • Jean Michel Thierry: Le couvent armenien d'Horomos . Paris 1980, ISBN 2-8017-0122-X (French).

Web links

Commons : Horomos  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Destruction of Horomos Monastery. In: Asbarez. August 27, 2003, accessed June 1, 2009 .

Coordinates: 40 ° 31 ′ 10.9 ″  N , 43 ° 37 ′ 45 ″  E