Targmantschaz Monastery (Ajgeschat)
The Monastery of the Holy Translators ( Armenian Թարգմանչաց վանք Targmantschaz Wank , also called Mesropavank ) is a former monastery of the Armenian Apostolic Church in the western Armenian province of Armavir . Today it is abandoned. Most of the buildings have been destroyed and the area is overgrown. The complex in the center of the village of Aygeschat should not be confused with the Targmantschaz Monastery in today's Azerbaijan .
location
The monastery is located in the middle of the village of Aygeschat on the banks of the Kazakh River, about 20 kilometers from the Armenian capital Yerevan .
Building description and history
The monastery was founded in the 7th century. During this time, the main church, the Surb Astwazazin Church ( Armenian „ Աստվածածին ," Holy Mother of God ", western Armenian Surp Asdwadsadsin , other romances Surb Astvatsatsin, Surp Astvatsatsin, Surb Astuacacin ) was built. The monastery got its name because many manuscripts were translated there during the Middle Ages . It was also an important educational center in the region. There is a small cemetery on the monastery grounds. On the site there are some khachkars (artistically hewn memorial stones with a relief cross in the middle, which is surrounded by geometric and plant motifs).
In the local tradition, the monastery is associated with the holy Mesrop Mashtots , which is why the local population also calls the monastery Mesropavank. An earthquake in the 17th century largely destroyed the buildings of the monastery. Part of the east wing of the church was preserved. The monastery has been abandoned since then, but is still an important place of pilgrimage among the locals. For a few years now, the site has also been visited by numerous tourists.
Since 2012 the monastery has been restored with state funds amounting to 14 million dram . In the course of the work, the church will be rebuilt. For this purpose, around 60 percent of the stones, weighing 20 to 30 tons, are to be reused and built on modern steel foundations . However, the start of construction, which was scheduled for 2017, was delayed.
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Rediscovering Armenia Guidebook- Armavir Marz - Armeniapedia.org. Retrieved November 28, 2017 .
- ↑ a b c d Luiza Sukiasyan: 'Shame!': Armen Amiryan irritated during visit to Targmanchats monastery. In: Aravot. October 30, 2017, accessed November 28, 2017 .
Coordinates: 40 ° 14 ′ 9.2 ″ N , 44 ° 17 ′ 20.1 ″ E