Kathoghike Cathedral of Aruch

Name: Kathoghike Cathedral of Aruch
Monument type: Church-Monastic Complex
Region: Aragatsotn Province
Periods: Medieval

Name: Kathoghike Cathedral of Aruch

Other nomination: St. Grigor church

Monument type: Church-Monastic Complex

Region: Aragatsotn

Community: Ashtarak

Residence: Aruch village

Location: Northern side of the village

Preservation: Standing without a dome

Coordinates: 40°17´19˝N 44°04´57˝E

Altitude: 1220 m

Era and chronology: 662-666 , Early Middle Ages

Kathoghike Cathedral of Aruch: Bathed in the Light of the Divine

Awaiting you at the heart of this awe-inspiring temple is a transcendental experience that will draw you closer to the divine. Established in 662, this remarkable cathedral stands as a pinnacle of Armenia’s Golden Age of Architecture, boasting a refined design that captivates the senses.

Once you step inside, a magnificent display of colorful ancient frescoes adorning the walls envelops you in a sacred silence. And as the light enters from the central missing dome, it bathes the entire space in radiant luminosity. In that ethereal moment, the frescoes seem to come alive, immersing you in a mystical embrace of tranquility.

Interestingly, the absence of the dome, now in ruins, has only served to enhance the cathedral’s magnificence, creating an uninterrupted connection with the heavens above. It is as though the cathedral is engaged in direct communion with the celestial realm, basking in its divine radiance.

Located in Aragatsotn, in the village which bears its name, the Aruch Temple, also known as the Kathoghike Cathedral of Aruch, was founded by the prominent Armenian prince Grigor Mamikonyan in 662 and was consecrated in 666. Its construction stands as a significant milestone documented by Armenian chroniclers.

The church was restored in 973 and the 15th century. However, it suffered destruction and abandonment until a significant renovation took place from 1949-1959, including surrounding area improvements.

Today, the temple has reached us largely unaltered, with only a few notable modifications. While the dome has suffered destruction, the western and southern colonnaded porches have also been lost, and the tiled floor has been replaced by stone slabs. Nevertheless, the cathedral remains an impressive testament to its original form.

As the largest and most intricately designed structure of its kind, the cathedral exemplifies the dome hall architectural style. Within its rectangular layout extending from east to west, a spacious square area was formed in the central part to accommodate the dome. This dome was supported by robust pairs of masonry, forming wide arches that gracefully descend.

The temple features three entrances located on its western, southern, and northern facades. Light graces the cathedral abundantly, as wide windows adorn all sides, orated with beautifully sculpted arches that crown the openings.

And as you step into the temple, your attention is immediately drawn to the breathtaking beauty of the altar at its center. There, standing tall at 7 meters, you are captivated by the figure of Christ, holding a scroll in His hands, although only the lower part of the figure remains. Just below, separated by an ornamental belt, you discover remnants of the images depicting the twelve apostles.

Those frescoes which were skillfully crafted by the renowned artist Stephanos during the 7th century are one of the most remarkable attributes of the temple. They stand as a testament to his exceptional artistry, characterized by meticulous craftsmanship, a vibrant color palette, and a distinct influence of Eastern Hellenistic art.

The Aruch church is surrounded by religious and secular structures, as well as a cemetery. The oldest structure in the complex being the three-aisle basilica church from the 5th century, which later transformed into a fortified castle-fortress. The ensemble also includes a small chapel, step-shaped altar pedestals, and a cemetery spread across the temple’s western, northern, and eastern sides. In close proximity, 200 meters southwest, is the Arshakunis’ winter camp with an added citadel in the High Middle Ages. Near the M1 highway, there is a 13th-century caravanserai, while early tombs and structures are found throughout Aruch village.

Legend has it that during the consecration of the Kathoghike Church, Persian nobleman Surhan was baptized, taking the name David, under the sponsorship of Grigor Mamikonyan. To preserve his Christian faith, he was executed in Dvin and later canonized as David Dvintsi by the Armenian Church.

FACTS

❈ The Temple of Arush was founded in 662 in an Aragatsotn village that was named after it. Its construction stands as a significant milestone documented by Armenian chroniclers.

❈ The impressive scale of the church and its refined structure make it one of the finest examples of the Golden Age in Armenian architecture.

❈ The church is famous for its impressive, colorful murals that date back to the 7th century. Your gaze is immediately drawn towards an impressive 7-meter-tall figure of Christ at the altar, where the lower part is still preserved.

❈ Although the structure is well kept, its dome is missing. This allows the interior of the church to be bathed in natural light and creates an uninterrupted communion with the sky.

❈The Aruch church complex, surrounded by religious and secular structures, includes a 5th-century basilica church turned fortress, a chapel, step-shaped altar pedestals, a cemetery, a winter camp with a citadel, a 13th-century caravanserai, and ancient tombs and structures spread throughout Aruch village.

🔍 Research history

The first information about the monument was reported by the 19th century travelers and topographers. Many Armenology scholars have touched upon Kathoghike’s history, architecture and art (N. Mar, H. Orbeli, T. Toramanian, Y. Strzhigovski, N. Tokarski, A. Jacobson, V. Harutyunyan, A. Hasratyan, H. Yeghiazaryan, S. Ter-Nersesyan, L. Durnovo, N. Kotanjian, K. Matevosyan, etc.). Excavations were carried out in the area of the monument group by V. Harutyunyan (1947-1953), G.M. Sargsyan (2006), and the Armenian-Italian expedition (2013).

🧱 Archaeological description

Location
The Kathoghike cathedral was founded in the medieval town of Aruch surrounded by religious and secular structures and a cemetery. The core of the monument group is the Kathoghike Cathedral with the columned palace of Grigor Mamikonyan 20 m south , the oldest structure of the monument group – the three-aisle basilica church (5th century) 60 m southeast, which later transformed into a secular structure, and being equipped with towers, became a castle-fortress in the XII-XIII centuries. The monument group consists of the small chapel, the step-shaped pedestals of the altars and the cemetery spread on the western, northern and eastern sides of the temple. 200 m south-west of the monument group is the Arshakunis’ winter camp supplemented with a citadel in the High Middle Ages (excavations were carried out in the area of the castle in 1980-81 under B. Sadoyan’s direction), on the northern side, near the M1 highway, there is a 13th century caravanserai. There are early tombs and structures in different parts of Aruch village.

Stratigraphy
According to chronicle sources and the construction protocol, Aruch Temple was built by one of the most prominent Armenian princes Grigor Mamikonyan during 662-666. His governance period was significant with its peaceful and constructive activities, when the official township of Aruch became the administrative center of the country. The consecration of the Kathoghike church was performed by Anastas Akorets Catholicos, back in 666. The inscriptions carved on the walls of the temple and the historians’ information state about the prosperity of Aruch township, the renovations and donations of the church during and after the Bagratunyats kingdom. According to the preserved lithographs, the church was renovated in 973 and in the XV century. The church was destroyed and abandoned in the XIX and the first half of the XX century. In 1949-1959 the temple was reinforced and renovated, the surrounding areas were cleaned and improved.

Architecture
Aruchi temple has come into us without significant changes. Only the dome is destroyed, the western and southern colonnaded porches are missing, the tiled floor is now replaced by stone slabs. The cathedral is the largest, most elaborate and well-preserved structure of a dome hall type. In the central part of its east-west rectangular structure a dome square was formed with wide dome bearing arches descending on two pairs of powerful masonry; a unified interior was created as well. The transition from the square base of the dome to the circular one is made through sails. On both sides of the main tabernacle are the depositories with hiding places. Externally, the eastern front is formed of triangular niches crowned with an arch placed between the apse and the vestibules. The temple has three entrances on the west, south and north facades. The cathedral gets its abundant light through wide windows on all fronts, crowned by sculpted arches. The eaves are elaborated with crochet ornaments. The interior artistic design was carried out with mural painting. Visitors’ attention are drawn to the beauty of the 7m high figure of Christ holding a scroll in the center of the altar, only the lower part of which remains. Below the image of Christ, separated by a decorative belt, the 12 apostles’ image remnants have been preserved. The frescoes were made by artist Stephanos in the 7th century and stand out with their high craftsmanship, rich color palette and bear the stamp of Eastern Hellenistic art.

On the walls of the Catholic church there are many signs of kartash (cross stone) masters.

🔨 Findings

Architectural details, tombstones, pottery, metal finds, coins.

🌍 Significance

The construction of Aruch temple was an important historical event particularly mentioned by Armenian chroniclers. It is one of the most impressive structures of the Armenian architecture Golden Age with its monumentality and composition, bright and solemn interior. The murals of Aruch are among the remarkable examples of the Armenian monumental painting.

📜 Traditional legends

According to Hovhannes Draskhanakertsi, during the consecration of the Kathoghike Church, the Persian nobleman Surhan was baptized adopting the Christian name David; the latter’s Godfather was Grigor Mamikonyan. In order not to renounce Christianity, he was executed in Dvin and canonized with the name of David Dvintsi (from Dvin) by the Armenian Church.

📚 Sources

Literature

Hovhannes Draskhanakertsi 1996, History of Armenia (translated and annotated by G.B. Tosunyan), Yerevan, “Yerevan State University”, 398 pages.
Hasratyan A. 2010, Aruch Early Medieval Complex, Yerevan, “Science”, 196 pages.
Matevosyan K. 1987, Aruch, Yerevan, “Armenia”, 95 pages.
Miridjanyan D., Aleksanyan T. 2014, Archaeological studies in Aruch ancient site, “Articles of Armenian Studies”, N2-3, pp. 127-143.
Harutyunyan V. 1946, Concerning the dating of the temple in Aruch, Yerevan.
Durnovo L. 1952, Wall painting in Aruch, News of the ArmSSR AN, N 1, p. 49-66.

List of monuments.
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