Hovhannes Karapet Monastery

Name: Hovhannes Karapet Monastery
Monument type: Church and Monastic Complex
Region: Ararat Province
Periods: Medieval

Name: Hovhannes Karapet Monastery

Other nomination: St. Karapet monastery, St. Hovhannes Karapet Monastery of Urtsadzor

Monument type: Monastery Complex

Region: Ararat province

Community: Lusashogh

Residence: Shaghap and Lusashogh

Location: The complex is located in Ararat province, 1 km north-east of the now abandoned Jnjrlu village, on the northern foot of the Urtsi Mountains, on the right side of the Vedi-Lusashogh road.

Preservation: Reconstructed, functioning

Coordinates: 39°33′02″ N 46°01′43″ E

Altitude: 2000 m

Era and chronology: XIV century

Hovhannes Karapet Monastery:
A Healing Haven for the Pilgrims

While the architectural splendor of Hovhannes Karapet Monastery may captivate your gaze, this sacred site offers much more than historical marvels.

Within these hallowed walls, you’ll feel the gentle, radiating light enveloping your soul, ushering in a profound sense of tranquility and inner peace. As you stand within the monastery’s embrace, you can almost sense the echoes of countless pilgrims who once sought solace and healing within its sanctuary.

It becomes clear why this place held such significance that the illustrious Orbelian princely house chose it as their dynastic cemetery.

Amidst the rugged beauty of the Ararat province in Armenia and proudly standing on the northern foot of the Urtsi Mountains, you’ll find the Hovhannes Karapet Monastery—a hidden gem of historical and spiritual significance. This remarkable complex has weathered centuries of trials and tribulations, emerging as a testament to the enduring power of faith and heritage.

Dating back to the XIV century, the story of this monastery is as enigmatic as it is rich. Historical sources are surprisingly silent about the complex, and it remained hidden from the eyes of travelers and topographers for centuries. It is believed to have been founded by the Orbelians, a prominent Armenian clan, as their clan cemetery.

In 1593, an inscription mentions the monastery, indicating that it stood even at that time. However, by 1725, it had fallen into ruins and abandonment, likely due to the extensive earthquake of 1679.

The monastery’s revival came at the end of the XIX century when residential buildings, a monastery wall, and grain fields were constructed, breathing new life into this sacred site.

Architecturally, Hovhannes Karapet Monastery is a marvel. The complex comprises several structures, including the Spitakavor St. Astvatsatsin Church, believed to have been built in 1301. The church boasts exquisite masonry, with a domed hall and a slender, cylindrical drum crowned by an umbrella-shaped cover. Intricately carved high-art sculptures adorn the western porch lintel, depicting scenes from the life of Virgin Mary and the angelic host.

Adjacent to the church, you’ll find the zhamatun, a vaulted structure from the XIV century, and a two-story church-mausoleum. Convent buildings constructed in 1896 and a surrounding wall built in 1897 further enhance the complex’s allure.

The monastery’s significance extends beyond its architectural grandeur. It served as a dynastic cemetery for the Orbelian princely house, drawing pilgrims and believers from near and far.

Legend has it that the monastery also housed a treatment center for the sick and needy, where thousands sought solace and healing. St. Karapet, according to local lore, was not only the patron saint of lovers but also a healer, a provider of shelter, and a source of sustenance for the destitute.

Despite enduring earthquakes and the passage of time, the Hovhannes Karapet Monastery remains an emblem of Armenian heritage, attracting pilgrims and history enthusiasts alike.

Its recent reconstruction project, initiated in 2015, stands as a testament to the enduring reverence for this sacred site, ensuring that its legacy continues to inspire generations to come.

FACTS

❈ Hovhannes Karapet Monastery, nestled in Armenia’s Ararat province, is a hidden gem of historical and spiritual significance.

❈ Dating back to the XIV century, the monastery’s origin is enigmatic, likely founded by the Orbelian clan and later revived
in the XIX century.

❈ Architecturally, the complex includes the Spitakavor St. Astvatsatsin Church with exquisite masonry and intricate sculptures.

❈ The monastery served as a dynastic cemetery and a treatment center for the sick and needy, with St. Karapet as its patron saint.

❈ Despite earthquakes and time, ongoing reconstruction preserves the monastery’s legacy as an emblem of Armenian heritage.

🔍 Research history

Historical sources do not provide any information about the monastery complex: it was also overlooked by travelers and topographers, only Ghevond Alishan had a quick reference on its name. According to one of the records, the monastery was founded by the Orbelians at the beginning of the XIV century as their clan cemetery. At that time, Urtsadzor province was ruled by the Orbelians. In a 1593 inscription the monastery is said to be standing at that time. According to another inscription dating to 1725, the monastery was in ruins and abandoned. The monastery and other monasteries in the vicinity were destroyed because of the 1679 extensive earthquake. The residential buildings of the monastery congregation built in 1896, the monastery wall built in 1897, and the grain fields built in 1898, suggest that the monastery was restored for some time at the end of the XIX century. The monument group was more or less studied by H. Yeghiazaryan in his article “Hovhann Karapet Monastery and its lithographic inscriptions” (“Etcmiadzin”, 1962, N1).

🧱 Archaeological context description

Location
The monument is located 6 km south-west of the Lusashogh village of Ararat province, in the Moshaghbyur village, on the northern foot of the Urtsi mountains, on the right side of the Vedi-Lusashogh road.

Architecture
According to one of the few monastery inscriptions, it was founded by the Orbelians at the beginning of the XIV century as their clan cemetery. St. Hovhannes Karapet monastic complex consists of Spitakavor St. Astvatsatsin Church (1301), zhamatun (XIV century), a two-story mausoleum, convent buildings (1896), a wall (1897). According to the inscription on the southern wall, the white church was built by architect But in 1301 by the order of Gomtsa, the wife of Jalal, the son of Orbelian Tarsayich prince. The church is a domed hall with one pair of masonry, rectangular, two-story vaults on both sides of the altar, the dome with a slender, cylindrical drum is crowned with an umbrella-shaped cover. On the western porch lintel and above it there are high-art sculptures with very beautiful and delicately worked icons with a flower weave-miniature in the background: Virgin Mary reclined on a pillow, the baby Jesus Christ in her arms, and an angel on the sides: in the south, Gabriel and Michael are standing with their arms extended towards the mistress. Above them, Adam is depicted with the zodiac signs of the evangelists around it, and on the right side it is written AD in large letters. The author of the bas-reliefs is the venerable artist Sargis. On a large stone lying inside the church, there is a high sculpture of the Proshyan dynasty: an eagle with spread wings, holding a ram in its claws. The zhamatun dating back to the XIV century, is built on the south-western side of St. Astvatsatsin Church. It is a vaulted structure with a rectangular plan (now demolished). A two-story church-mausoleum is built next to the zhamatun on the western side. The convent buildings were built next to the monastery wall and date back to 1896. The rectangular wall surrounding the monastery was built in 1897. In the monastery cemetery, khachkars with delicate ornaments and tombstones with household images have been preserved. The monastery complex also had its own aqueduct with fired clay pipes stretching to the reservoir. Hovhannes St. Karapet monastery complex was standing for centuries, but it suffered a great damage during several earthquakes. Time and trials, however, have not decreased the power of the sanctuary. Many miracles have been preserved in the memory of our people about the pilgrims visiting the monastery and the fulfillment of their prayers. Even today, the shrine is a popular pilgrimage place for many Armenians. The reconstruction project of the monastery complex with its main construction plan and work schedule was made in 2015. The important points of the project are: fixing and repairing St. Astvatsatsin Church, renovation of the mausoleum and cemetery, as well as the reconstruction of the monastic residence buildings.

🔨 Findings

The high sculpture of the Proshyans with a winged eagle holding a ram in its claws, is on a large stone lying inside the church.

🌍 Significance

According to the information of the abbots, this monastic complex was built as a dynastic cemetery of the Orbelian princely house and served as an important place of pilgrimage for believers. There was a treatment center in the monastery for lepers, patients, and relatives, where thousands of pilgrims came for treatment.

📜 Traditional legends

According to the legend St. Karapet was not only the petitioner of lovers, but also the healer of the sick, shelter and food provider for those in need.

📚 Sources

Literature

“Christian Armenia” encyclopedy 2002, ch. ed. Jov. Ayvazyan, Armenian Encyclopedia, Yerevan, pp. 1040-1041.
Barkhudaryan S. 1963, Medieval Armenian architects and stonemasons, Yerevan, USSR Academy of Sciences ed., 381 pages.
Yeghiazaryan H. 1962, Hovhann Karapet Monastery and its lithographic inscriptions, “Echmiadzin”, N1, pp. 57-63.
Melkonyan Y. 2003, Saint John Karapet Monastery, Handes Amsoreai, No. 1-12, Vienna-Yerevan, pp. 189-250.
G. Hovsepyan 1913, The offspring of Tarsaich and Min Khatuna “Christian East”, vol. 2, c. 2, St. Petersburg.

List of monuments

Ararat 3.48.14.1