Tegher Monastery
The Tegher Monastery ( Armenian Տեղեր or Տեղերի Վանք Tegheri Wank ) is a former monastery of the Armenian Apostolic Church in the western Armenian province of Aragazotn . The origins of the monastery go back to the early 13th century. Today it is partly a ruin.
location
The monastery is located near the village of Tegher at an altitude of 1700 m on the southern flank of the Aragaz , an extinct stratovolcano , which at 4090 m is the highest point in Armenia . There it stands on the edge of a canyon , on the opposite side of which is the city of Bjurakan . The monastery survived intact during a time when Mongol invasions plagued the country. In the immediate vicinity of the monastery are the ruins of the village of Tegher from the 9th century, including the remains of a Tukh Manuk cult site . There is also a cemetery in the area, which was occupied from the Middle Ages to the 19th century. There are some mausoleums and khachkars on the site .
Building description
The monastery complex consists of a church and a gawit built in front of it to the west with two chapels on its roof. All buildings were made of dark gray basalt and are characterized by their strict architectural style, which dispenses with any decorative elements.
The main church Surb Astvatsatsin (( Armenian Սուրբ Աստվածածին , "Holy Mother of God "), western Armenian Surp Asdwadsadsin , other romanizations Surp Astvatsatsin, Surb Astuacacin, Surb Astwazazin ) is a cross- domed church , which was completed in 1221. It is rectangular on the outside and cross-shaped on the inside. On the side opposite the entrance is the semicircular altar apse. There are four side chapels in the corners. The outer facade is structured by two wall niches and windows in the north, east and south. The walls are covered with a gable roof. The tambour is round inside and out and is crowned by a tent roof on the outside . The drum and dome rest on a square structure supported by columns.
The Gawit was completed in 1221. It has a square floor plan. The dome with a central skylight is supported by intersecting arches that rest on four pillars. The Gawit von Tegher differs from buildings from the time by two chapels that Vardapet Aghbayrik had built on the roof of the Gawit in the north-east and north-west. The crosses carved into the stone next to the main portal of the Gawit are reminiscent of people who financially supported the construction of the monastery.
history
In the second half of the 9th century, after the end of Arab rule under the autonomously ruling royal house of the Bagratids, the second phase of Armenian architecture began. From the 10th century regional princes founded monasteries in their sphere of influence. Around 1215, Prince Vacheh (from the Armenian Vachutian dynasty) bought Aragatzotn. Together with his wife Mama Khatun he founded the monasteries of Howhannawank , Saghmosawank (main church 1216–1221) and Tegher. The architect Vardapet Aghbayrik built the monastery (as well as the neighboring monasteries Howhannawank and Saghmosawank) according to an inscription on a column in the Gawit in the years 1213 to 1232. After their death, the prince and his wife were buried in the vestibule of the Tegher monastery.
The monastery survived the time of the Mongol invasion in the 13th century relatively unscathed. A defensive wall with round towers, which is now partially ruined, has surrounded the area since 1467. In 1940–1952 and 1975–1976 the monastery was restored. In the course of the work, the roof was re-covered with tuff stone . The domes were repaired, walls and cornices reinforced.
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ www.mediable.com: Tegher Monastery - Armenica.org. Retrieved November 10, 2017 .
- ↑ Article Kloster Tegher in the Great Soviet Encyclopedia (BSE) , 3rd edition 1969–1978 (Russian)
- ↑ a b c Tegher Monastery, Tegher, Armenia | World Building Directory | Buildings. Retrieved November 10, 2017 .
Coordinates: 40 ° 20 ′ 42.3 ″ N , 44 ° 14 ′ 26 ″ E