Gndevanq
Name: Gndevanq
Monument type: Monastery complex
Region: Vayots Dzor Province
Periods: Medieval
Name: Gndevanq
Other nomination: St. Stepanos Nakhavka church of Gndevanq
Monument type: Monastery complex
Region: Vayots Dzor
Community: Jermuk
Residence: Gndevaz village
Location: About 1 km west of the village, on the left bank of the Arpa river gorge, on the right side of the Vayk – Jermuk old road.
Preservation: Partially restored
Coordinates: 39°45’31.5″N 45°36’39.7″E
Elevation: 1567 m
Era and chronology: X-XVII centuries, functioned from the High Middle ages to the end of the XIX century.
Gdnevank: The Diamond of Vayots Dzor
“Vayots Dzor was a ring without a diamond. I built this to place on it as a diamond,” said Princess Sophia, who founded Gndevank in 936, making it one of the region’s oldest monasteries.
More than a thousand years have passed, yet this monastic complex still proudly stands as an enduring symbol of Vayots Dzor’s heart. Its timeless elegance mirrors the peaceful harmony of the surrounding landscape.
You won’t see any additional ornaments, intricate details, or excessive decorations on its walls. Instead, this refined structure appears to emerge gracefully from the deep valley on the left side of Arpa river, as if woven by the gentle hands of Mother Nature herself.
At the heart of the complex of Gndevank monastery lies the Saint Stepanos Nakhavka Church, built in the 10th century.
Within the premises, you’ll find residential and economic structures as well as a precious collection of khachkars (cross-stones) and carefully carved tombstones, dating back to the 13th to 17th centuries. These historical artifacts add to the cultural and artistic significance of the site.
The St. Stepanos Nakhavka church showcases a distinctive architectural style, characterized by its four apses and cross-domed structure. Constructed using finely cut basalt, the church features two vaults on its eastern side. Notably, it possesses two entrances, located in the southern and western transepts. Each facade of the church is adorned with a pair of triangular niches, topped with sculptures depicting human heads placed within the domes. The transition from the domed base to the sixteen-sided drum is marked by four arches, each bearing the emblems of the four evangelists. The interior of the Upper Tabernacle and walls were adorned with murals painted by the talented Elder Yeghisha, of which fragments have been preserved to this day.
The Gavit, or vestibule, of Gndevank monastery was constructed by Christapor Monk in the year 999. This rectangular structure is characterized by its vaulted design and it is topped with a gable roof. Along the northern wall, a separate nave was created, featuring a T-shaped gable, where two vaults are arranged in sequence. The entrance to the Gavit is situated on the western side, welcoming visitors into this remarkable architectural space.
The enclosure, built during the XIII-XIV centuries and later renovated in the XVII century, has an irregular quadrangular shape. It is adorned with semi-circular towers on the southern side and features a main entrance on the north-western side. Inside, there is a hall-shaped space with a guardhouse on the second floor. Attached to the enclosure are the monastery’s residential and commercial buildings, which consist of one or two-story vaulted structures.
Princess Sophia’s husband, Prince Smbat of Syunit, founded the villages of Gndevaz and Atchar and dedicated them to the monastery. He also ordered to plant gardens in the entire valley and in 1008, a canal was constructed to bring water from the Dzknarats river to irrigate the adjacent gardens. Even after 10 centuries, this canal still functions to this date.
The Monastery Through Time
The preserved stone inscriptions tell us that the monastery had been renovated in 1309 and 1691.
In the 13th-14th centuries, the monastery was enclosed, while in the 17th century, residential and commercial buildings were added as the congregation expanded. The monastery fell into abandonment and was deserted during the 18th and 19th centuries.
Renovations and area improvements took place between 1968 and 1971. In 1981, during a cleaning operation, a “treasure” consisting of church metal utensils and porcelain cups was found in a pit shelter at Gndevank.
In a tale of love and challenge, a young prince sought the hand of the beautiful Sophia, daughter of Syunyats Prince Smbat. To win her hand in marriage, the prince had to build a canal from the Vorotan River to Vayots Dzor within 40 days, while Sophia simultaneously constructed a monastery. On the 39th day, the prince, lacking progress, hung a white canvas to create the illusion of a finished canal. Meanwhile, Sophia, nearing completion of the monastery, faced financial hardships. Believing the canal was complete, she tragically threw herself into the abyss. Since then, the monastery has been known as Gndevank.
Another tale says that King Smbat’s wife, Sophia, desired to construct a monastery in this area. After its completion, monks from nearby valleys were invited to join. One monk, named Ovanes, due to his advanced age, prayed while sitting and was affectionately called Gunt Ovanes (meaning “ball” in reference to his posture). Ovanes became the first abbot, and the monastery was initially named Gunt Ovanes Monastery, later evolving into Gntavaz and eventually becoming known as Gndevank.
FACTS
❈ Gdnevank is one of the oldest monasteries preserved monasteries of Vayots Dzor. It is built in a deep valley, on the left side of the Arpa river. The complex is known for its refined yet clean and simple structure. It is harmoniously blends in and complements the surrounding landscape, as if its becoming one with the Nature of Vayots Dzor.
❈ When she founded it in 936, Princess Sophia declared ‘’Vayots Dzor was a ring without a diamond. I built this to place on it as a diamond,”
❈ Within the monastic complex, you will find the St. Stepanos Nakhavka church, dating back to the 10th century. Alongside the church, there is a vestibule, an enclosure, as well as several residential and economic structures, including a refectory. Furthermore, the vicinity is adorned with a multitude of valuable cross-stones and tombstones, adding to the site’s historical significance.
❈ The site is a true archaeological gem, holding a wealth of historical treasures. Over the centuries, numerous valuable artifacts, including ecclesiastical utensils, have been unearthed through various periods of excavation.
🔍 Research history
The monument was first described by the topographers of the XIX-XX centuries (S. Jalalyants, Kajberuni, G. Alishan, Yer. Lalayan, H. Yeghiazaryan). The architecture was studied by S. Mnatsakanyan, M. Hasratyan, the murals by L. Durnovo, the lithographs by S. Barkhudaryan.
🧱 Archaeological description
Location
It is located on the left side of the Arpa river in a deep valley, on a slope surrounded by rocks.
Stratigraphy
According to the XIII century historian Stepanos Orbelyan, the monastery was built in 936 by Sophia, the wife of Prince Smbat enthroned in Syunik, naming it Gndevank. “Vayots Dzor was a ring without a diamond, I built this to place on it as a diamond.” He founded the village of Gndevaz dedicating it to the monastery along with the village of Atchar, he ordered to plant gardens in the entire valley as well. Supan Gnduni, one of the hermits living in the valley, is appointed an abbot. At the end of the X century, abbot Christapor builds the vestibule, the earliest dated structure of the type. Due to abbot Sargis’s great efforts and expenses, a canal was brought from the Dzknarats river to irrigate the nearby gardens in 1008: the latter functions up to day. According to the preserved stone inscriptions, the church and the courtyard were renovated by Grigor in 1309 and by Reverend Petros in 1691. Approximately in the XIII-XIV centuries the monastery was enclosed. In the XVII century the congregation expanded, residential and commercial buildings were built. The monastery was abandoned and deserted during the XVIII-XIX centuries. In 1875, while gardening, the only resident of the monastery, Reverend Hovhannes Ter-Harutyunyants, found a collection of ecclesiastical utensils dating back to 1691 from the well: the fate of the latter is unknown and, fortunately, has come down to us due to Kajberuni’s descriptions. In 1968-1971 renovation of monastic structures and area improvement works were carried out. In 1981 during the cleaning of the area, the second “treasure” of Gndevank was found from a pit shelter, consisting of church metal utensils and porcelain cups, now stored in the “Historical-Cultural Museums-Reserve and Service for the Protection of Historical Environment ” SNOC repository.
Architecture
It consists of Saint Stepanos Nakhavka Church built in the X century, located in the center of an enclosed courtyard, and the vestibule adjacent to it from the west, as well as residential and economic buildings, a refectory adjacent to the enclosure. There are khachkars (cross-stones) and carved tombstones in the yard dating to the XIII-XVII centuries.
St. Stepanos Nakhavka church is a four-apsed, cross-domed building built of hewn basalt with two vaults on the eastern side. It has two entrances in the southern and western transepts. Externally, all facades have a pair of triangular niches with human head sculptures placed in its domes. The transition from the domed base to the 16-seated drum is realized by four sails with the four evangelists’ emblems carved on them. The Upper Tabernacle and the walls were internally covered with murals painted by Elder Yeghisha, fragments of which have been preserved.
Gavit (the vestibule) was built by Christapor Monk in 999. It is a rectangular vaulted structure with a west-eastern axis, covered with a gable roof. Along the northern wall, a separate nave was created with a T-shaped gable, where the two vaults are located in sequence. The entrance is from the western side.
The enclosure was probably built in the XIII-XIV and renovated in the XVII century. It is a structure with an irregular quadrangular plan, with semi-circular towers on the southern side. The main entrance is on the north-western side. Inside it is hall-shaped with a guardhouse built on the second floor. The residential and commercial buildings of the monastery are attached to the southern and western sides of the enclosure. They are one-story, sometimes two-story vaulted buildings.
🔨 Findings
church utensils (beater, cymbals, candlesticks, ashtrays, bells, etc.), Chinese porcelain cups.
🌍 Significance
Gndevank is one of the oldest preserved monasteries in Vayots Dzor, located in a beautiful deep canyon, harmonizing with nature.
📜 Traditional legends
“A young prince asks for the hand of beautiful Sophia, the daughter of Syunyats Prince Smbat. The latter says that he will only agree if the prince takes part in his proposed contest and defeats him. The condition was as follows: the prince had to build a canal from the Vorotan River to Vayots Dzor in 40 days, and Sophia had to build a monastery at the same time. On the 39th day the news reaches the prince that Sophia is about to finish the monastery construction. With his father’s advice, the prince hangs a white canvas on the slope for the wind to flutter it and create an impression that the canal is already ready and the water has arrived. Although Sophia was about to finish the monastery construction, her wealth was already consumed and she had to sell her earrings for the stones of the monastery dome. At that moment the news reaches to Sofia that the canal is ready. Sofia is looking at the canvas hanging from the opposite cliff having the impression of a waterfall from a distance. In despair, she throws herself into the abyss. And since that day the monastery has been called Gndevank.”
“King Smbat’s wife Sopia wanted to build a monastery here. When the monastery was completed, the monks living in the nearby valleys were invited to the new monastery. A monk named Ovanes was unable to stand because of old age and prayed sitting, for which he was called Gunt Ovanes (gunt-ball, in this position he seemed to be like a ball). Ovanes becomes the first abbot of the monastery, and the monastery is named after him Gunt Ovanes Monastery, Gntavaz, and then Gndevank.”
📚 Sources
- Stepanos Orbelyan 1986, History of Syunik (translated by A. Abrahamyan), Yerevan, “Soviet writer”, 615 pages.
- Zhamkochian A., Meshinyan A. 1996, Chinese porcelain samples from Gndevanq, Journal of History, N 1-2, pp. 382-385.
- Ghanalanyan A. 1969, Legends, Yerevan, ASSR GA ed., 530 pages.
- Meshinyan A. 2009, Gndevank church collection, “Museum” scientific and methodological magazine, N 1, p. 105-112.
- Mnatsakanyan S. 1960, Syunik School of Armenian Architecture, Yerevan, USSR State Publishing House, 267 pages.
- Kajberuni 2003, Travel notes, Yerevan, “Mughni”, 498 pages.
List of monuments
Vayots Dzor 11.16/15
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