Hayravanq

Name: Hayravank
Monument type: Church-Monastic Complex
Region: Gegharkunik Province
Periods: Medieval

Name: Hayravanq

Other nominations: Monastery of Father Hovhan, Monastery of Mardaghavnyats (human dove), Ayri Monastery (monastery of man)

Monument type: Monastery complex

Region: Gegharkunik

Community: Gavar

Residence: Hayravank village

Location: North-eastern side of the village, shore of the lake, top of a high rocky promontory.

Preservation: Restored

Coordinates: 40°25´58˝N 45°06´28˝E

Elevation: 1912 m

Era and chronology: IX-XIII centuries, High Middle Ages, according to the pastoral letters preserved in Sevan, it functioned until the XIX century.

Hayravank: Serenely Watching Over Sevan From its Rocky Perch

The moment your eyes first land upon Hayravank, perched majestically atop a rocky promontory on the northeastern shores of Armenia’s Lake Sevan, you are transported into a world where history, architecture, and legends converge.

Here, the warm hues of these ancient stones perfectly harmonize with the tranquil blue of Lake Sevan, inviting you to embark on a journey of self-reflection and renewal. As you contemplate this architectural gem from the High Middle Ages, you gain a profound sense of what human craftsmanship can achieve when blessed with the divine presence of Mother Nature.

Hayravank’s location is no accident. Situated along the medieval transit road known as the Dvin-Partav route, the monastery played a strategic role in the region. It stood as a testament to the resilience of the people who inhabited the settlement often referred to as the “Free City,” remnants of which still linger on the borders of Hayravank and Berdkunk villages.

Also known as the Monastery of Father Hovhan or the Monastery of Mardaghavnyats (meaning ‘monastery of man’), this edifice is an architectural gem that transports its visitors to the IX-X centuries, an era known as the High Middle Ages.

This period saw the emergence of Gegharkunik architectural style, and Hayravank is a prime example of this tradition. The church within the complex, a cross-plan domed structure, features internal and external semi-circular apses, with a rectangular vaulted depository tucked away in the southeast corner. It was masterfully constructed using local basalt and gray-brown tuff.

While the monastery’s origins date back centuries, it underwent a significant renovation in 1211 under the patronage of Buba, a notable ruler of the province who served the Orbelians. The vestibule, a two-pillared hall with a sacral dome, was added during this restoration. It stands as a testament to the architectural prowess of the time, adorned with checkerboard arrangements of two-colored stones.

But Hayravank is not just a place of stone and mortar. It’s also a place where legends come to life. One such legend, recounted by Catholicos Gazar A Jahketsi, tells of Abbot Hovhan of Hayravank, the very namesake of the monastery. During the invasion of Lenk Timur in 1381, Abbot Hovhan performed a miracle with a relic of Christ’s crucifix. He tied it to his back and walked on the sea, stunning the tyrant. In exchange for his mercy, Lenk Timur promised to release as many Christian prisoners as the small church could hold. With the power of the cross, Father Hovhan transformed thousands of Christians captured by the tyrant into doves, which flew over the sea and landed on the island of Sevanavank. The tyrant departed, leaving behind a treasure trove of gold, silver, and precious stones.

FACTS

❈ Hayravank, strategically located along the Dvin-Partav route, is a testament to the “Free City” and the resilience of its people.

❈ This IX-X century monastery is an architectural gem, showcasing the Gegharkunik style with cross-plan domed structures and local stone construction.

❈ The significant 1211 renovation, patronized by Buba, added a vestibule adorned with checkerboard stone arrangements, highlighting the architectural prowess of the time.

❈ The legend of Abbot Hovhan, who performed a miracle with a relic of Christ’s crucifix during an invasion, is part of Hayravank’s rich history.

❈ With the power of the cross, Father Hovhan transformed Christian prisoners into doves, leading to the tyrant’s departure and the discovery of a treasure trove.

Research history

The first descriptions of the monument were made in the XIX-XX centuries by topographers (H. Shahkhatunyants, S. Jalalyants, M. Smbatyants, G. Alishan, E. Lalayan). In the middle of the XX century, the architecture and the lithograph were accordingly studied by S. Mnatsakanyan and S. Barkhudaryan.

Archaeological description

Location
Hayravank is located on the northern route of the Dvin-Partav medieval transit road stretching along the western bank of Sevan, in a settlement called “Free City” mentioned by topographers, the ruins of which have been preserved on the borders of Hayravank and Berdkunk villages. Located on a rock formed in the lake, the monastery was enclosed becoming an unavailable fortress. Ruins of the residential and industrial buildings can be seen outside the enclosure, and tombstones and khachkars are found in the small inner courtyard.

Stratigraphy
According to the features of the architectural design, the church dates back to the IX-X centuries and is typical of the architectural style of Gegharkunik province. According to the inscription preserved on the church wall, it was renovated in 1211 by the church leaders Hovasap and Nerses brothers, under the patronage of Buba, the great ruler of the province, who was the agent of the Orbelians. The vestibule was also built at the same period. Many donation inscriptions have been preserved on the walls of the church and the vestibule. In the Late Middle Ages, manuscripts were copied in the monastery. The monastery functioned until the XIX century. It was restored in the 1980s (designed by R. Davtyan).

Architecture
The monastery complex consists of a church and a gavit (vestibule).
The church is a cross-plan domed structure with internal and external semi-circle four apses with a rectangular vaulted depository built in the south-eastern corner. It has two entrances: the western one opening into the vestibule, the second one – in the southern transept towards the lake. The wings of the domed square lean on the connecting corners of the inner apses. The transition from the domed base to the octagonal drum is accomplished by a two-row transmission trumpet system. It was lit by eight windows: one each in the apses and four on the drum.
It is constructed of local fractured basalt, the responsible parts – the corners of the walls, domes, trumpets, drum and cupola – are built of hemispherical gray-brown tuff.
The exterior decoration is restrained, only the arch of the window of the eastern apse, decorated with mark-shaped ornament motifs, stands out.
Gavit (the vestibule) was attached to the church in 1211 during its renovation or a little later, incorporating the western crossbow. It is entirely built of hewn stones. It is a large square two-pillared hall. The central opening is crowned by a sacral dome. Inside, the corners of the dome base are decorated with amethyst decoration, between which the walls and the drum are covered by a checkerboard arrangement of two-colored stones. There are two-story vaults at the north-eastern and south-eastern corners of the vestibule, unusual for vestibule architecture. A stage was later built under the eastern wall for worship purposes. It has two entrances on the western and southern sides.

Significance

IX-X centuries, it is one of the typical examples of Syunik architectural school.

📜 Traditional legends

The name “Mardaghavnyats” of Hayravank is connected with the legend written by Catholicos Gazar A Jahketsi; according to the legend, during Lenk Timur’s invasion in 1381, Abbot Hovhan of Hayravank (the name of the monastery derives from his name) performed a miracle with the relic of Christ’s crucifix running on the sea tied it on his back: this stuns the tyrant. Lenk Timur promises to fulfill the abbot’s request to release as many Christian prisoners as the small church will hold. With the cross power, Father Hovhan transforms thousands of Christians captured by the tyrant into doves, which fly over the sea and land on the island of Sevanavank. Lenk Timur leaves the monastery, leaving behind a large amount of gold, silver and precious stones.

Sources

Literature

Barkhudaryan S. 1973, Diva of Armenian Lithography, 4, Gegharkunik. Kamo, Martuni and Vardenis regions, Yerevan, Academy of Science of SSR ed., 526 pages.
Mnatsakanyan S. 1960, Syunik School of Armenian Architecture, Yerevan, USSR State Publishing House, 267 pages.
Jalalyants S. Arch. 2016, Journey to Greater Armenia, Yerevan, DALL ed., 696 pages.
Smbatyants M. 1895, Topographer of Gegharkunik Tsovazard Province, Vagharshapat, Mother See of St. Etchmiadzin, 843 pages.

List of monuments

Gegharkunik 5.59/1.1

📷 Gallery

The plan of the monastery (Harutyunyan 1992)
Hayravank from the south-west (photo by P. Miroyan)
Hayravank from the north-east (photo by P. Miroyan)
Hayravank from the east (photo by P. Miroyan)
Hayravank from the west (photo by P. Miroyan)
The vestibule inside (photo by A. Babajanyan)
The base under the dome of the vestibule (photo by A. Babajanyan)
TheUpper Tabernacle of the church (photo by A. Babajanyan)
The khachkar (cross-stone), erected near the north-east corner of the vestibule (photo by A. Babajanyan)