Goshavank Monastery Complex

Name: Goshavank Monastery Complex
Monument type: Church-Monastery Complex
Region: Tavush Province
Periods: Medieval

Name: Goshavank Monastery Complex

Other nomination: Nor Getik Monastery

Monument type: Church-Monastic Complex

Region: Tavush

Community: Dilijan

Residence: Gosh village

Location: Village of Gosh, 15 km east of Dilijan.

Preservation: As a result of the renovation works, the main structures of the monastery complex are almost completely preserved.

Coordinates: 40o43’46. N 44o’59.50” E

Altitude: 1230 m

Era and chronology: The monastic complex dates back to the High Middle Ages, XII-XIII centuries.

Goshavank: A Hub of Enlightenment in Nature’s Divine Embrace

Goshavank welcomes you to explore its hallowed grounds, offering a journey through time. As you stand amidst the ancient stones, intricately carved khachkars, and beautifully adorned churches, you can’t help but be captivated by the stories of faith, artistry, and legends that have unfolded within these walls.

As a renowned scriptorium and intellectual hub, this monastery has played an essential role in the enlightenment of the region. Even today, these walls are ready to whisper their knowledge and wisdom if you are willing to listen closely and immerse yourself in the sacred echoes of the past.

In the picturesque region of Tavush, nestled 15 kilometers east of Dilijan, Armenia, lies the enchanting Goshavank Monastery Complex, also known as “Nor Getik Monastery.” Thanks to extensive renovation efforts, the main structures of this monastic complex have been lovingly preserved. The complex dates back to the High Middle Ages, flourishing in the 12th and 13th centuries.
Goshavank was more than just a place of worship; it was a hub of intellectual and spiritual activity. Here, the seminary offered teachings in jurisprudence, historiography, philosophy, as well as arts like rhetoric, miniature painting, music, and calligraphy. The knowledge imparted here extended far beyond its walls, as scholars who studied here went on to establish spiritual schools in other regions.

The Goshavank Monastery Complex boasts a rich architectural heritage, comprising several noteworthy structures:
St. Astvatsatsin Church: This magnificent church, built between 1191 and 1196 by master Mkhitar Hyusn with the support of Kurd and Khacheni Vakhtang princes, is a cross-domed masterpiece. It features a pair of two-story repositories adjacent to the Upper Tabernacle. The exterior, while simple, is adorned with numerous inscriptions, adding a layer of historical richness.
The Vestibule: Constructed immediately after the main church in 1197-1203 with the support of Zakare and Ivane Zakaryan brothers, the vestibule is a four-columned zhamatun-gavit with repositories in the eastern corners. It features an eight-columned roof system and serves as both an architectural marvel and a functional space.
St. Grigor Church: Built in 1241 on the southern side of the main church, it shares a similar architectural style but on a smaller scale.
St. Lusavorich Church: This cozy church, built in 1237-1241, stands out as a rare single-nave basilica with an exquisitely decorated exterior. The western wall, featuring a beautiful porch, is particularly remarkable. Nearby, two stunning khachkars, masterfully crafted by stonemason Poghos in 1291, offer a glimpse into Armenian artistry.
Scriptorium-Belfry: A two-story structure, this monument is a marvel of architecture. The scriptorium section, built in 1241, served as a space for preserving manuscripts, while the belfry, added in 1291, showcased the fusion of function and form.

Goshavank is steeped in legend, particularly the tale of Mkhitar Gosh, the great Armenian fable writer. According to the legend, Gosh dreamed of God warning of seven fruitful years followed by drought. In response, Gosh built granaries in the churches, filling them with grain. When the drought arrived, Gosh took a large basket, known as “gush,” filled it with grain, and distributed it to the people. This act of generosity led to his name, forever linking him with the legend of the “gush.”

FACTS

❈ Goshavank Monastery Complex, also known as “Nor Getik Monastery,” is located in the Tavush region of Armenia,
15 kilometers east of Dilijan.

❈ The complex dates back to the 12th and 13th centuries and was a center of intellectual and spiritual activity.

❈ Notable structures within the complex include St. Astvatsatsin Church, the Vestibule, St. Grigor Church, St. Lusavorich Church,
and the Scriptorium-Belfry.

❈ The legend of Mkhitar Gosh, the Armenian fable writer, is associated with Goshavank, where he stored grain to help
the community during a drought.

❈ Ongoing renovation efforts have preserved the complex’s main structures, showcasing its rich architectural heritage and historical significance.

🔍 Research history

Narrator Kirakos Gandzaketsi thoroughly describes the monastery foundation on the site of the Old Getik Monastery (completely destroyed because of the 1186 earthquake) by Mkhitar Gosh, a famous medieval fable writer and lawyer. The monastery was originally called Nor Getik, and after the founder’s death it was named Goshavank. In 1974 the monument became a reserve, and since 2003 it has operated as a branch of the “Historical-Cultural Museum-Reserve and Service for the Protection of Historical Environment” SNOC. The monument group was renovated in the 1950-1960s (author: H. Gasparyan, Yu. Tamanyan), then in 2014-2017. (arch. M. Danielyan). In 2001 it was handed over to the Mother See of St. Etchmiadzin by the decision of the Government of the Republic of Armenia.

🧱 Archaeological description

Location
The monuments engaged in the architectural complex of Goshavank are divided into two groups. The main group consisting of St. Astvatsatsin, St. Lusavorich, St. Grigor churches, the vestibule, scriptorium-belfry, chapels, khachkars, is located on the northern slope of the gorge. To the south-east of this group, on the opposite slope of the gorge is St. Hripsime church with double tabernacle and a structure believed to be Mkhitar Gosh’s tomb.

Architecture
Goshavank was one of the prominent spiritual cultural and scriptorium centers of the Middle Ages. Jurisprudence and historiography, philosophy, as well as arts (rhetoric, miniature painting, music, calligraphy) were also taught in the seminary operating here. The spiritual figures having studied here (Vanakan Vardapet, Kirakos Gandzaketsi and others), continued their school traditions establishing spiritual schools in other places themselves. St. Astvatsatsin Church is the first one in the monastic complex, built in 1191-1196 by master Mkhitar Hyusn with the financial support of Kurd and Khacheni Vakhtang princes. It belongs to the type of cross-domed churches, with a pair of two-story repositories adjacent to the Upper Tabernacle. The main entrance is from the vestibule, the other one is from the northern facade. The exterior architecture is simple. There are many inscriptions on the church walls – most of them carved and some of them written in red paint on the plaster. The vestibule is on the western side, built immediately after the main church in 1197-1203 with the support of Zakare and Ivane Zakaryan brothers. It belongs to the type of four-columned zhamatun-gavits, with a pair of repositories in the eastern corners. In addition to the four columns, the roof system is supported by the eight masonry columns attached to the walls as well. The central part is crowned with a window. The exterior and interior walls are plain. St. Grigor Church was built in 1241 on the southern side of the main church; it is of a similar type but smaller in size. St. Lusavorich is the third church of Goshavank, built with the funds of Prince Grigor -Tgha in 1237-1241, adjacent to the southern wall of the vestibule. This cozy church is a rare single-nave basilica type, with a vaulted roof under a gable cover. It also differs from the other churches of the monastery by the exceptional decoration of the outer walls, exquisite ornaments and architectural elements. The western wall with a beautiful porch is particularly prominent. The khachkars erected on the pedestals on both sides of the entrance of St. Lusavorich Church (one of the khachkars was transferred to the History Museum of Armenia in 1936) are among the best Armenian khachkar examples. They were built by the talented stonemason- master Poghos in 1291. The scriptorium-belfry is a two-story structure, a remarkable monument from an architectural point of view. The scriptorium of the building was built in 1241, and the belfry – in 1291. The scriptorium section is similar to the one of the Haghpat Monastery. The opposite internal walls of the building with a square plan are connected by strong arches leaning on a pair of low-lying masonry elements: they cross each other at the top of the internal space and carry the roof of the scriptorium and its superstructure-belfry. There are niches in the interior walls of the scriptorium for storing manuscripts. On the north-western side of the scriptorium – belfry building, there is a structure with only walls preserved: it was supposedly the refectory or the school of the monastery congregation.

🔨 Findings

In the course of the studies, many inscriptions and fragments of khachkars were found from the territory of the monastery and its surroundings.

🌍 Significance

The scriptorium-belfry together served as the basis for the formation of the plan and spatial volume structure of the double-story church-tombs (St. Astvatsatsin of Yeghvard, Burtelashen of Noravank, Kaputan).

📜 Traditional legends

There is a legend associated with the name of Gosh, telling that Mkhitar Gosh sees God in his dream warning of the upcoming seven fruitful years followed by a period of drought. God advises Gosh to build granaries in the churches and fill them with grain. When the drought year begins, Mkhitar Gosh takes a large basket, “gush”, fills it with grain and distributes it to people. That is reason that the great Armenian fable writer was named Gosh.

📚 Sources

Literature

Kirakos Gandzaketsi 1961, History of Armenians, K. Melik Ohanjanyan, Yerevan, USSR, 427 pages.
Diva of Armenian lithography 1977, Ijevan region, site 6, compiled by S. Avagyan, H. Janpoladyan, Yerevan, The Academy of Sciences ASSR ed., 223 pages.
Historical Monuments of Soviet Armenia 1937, Dilijan District, Yerevan, State University Printing House, 38 pages.
V. Harutyunyan 1992, History of Armenian Architecture, Yerevan, “Luys”, 540 pages.
O. Khalpakhchyan 1971, Civil architecture of Armenia, Moscow, Ed. Literature on construction, 245s.