Kayan Fortress

Name: Kayan Fortress
Monument type: Fortress
Region: Lori Province
Periods: Medieval

Name: Kayan Fortress

Other nomination: Haghpatavank Fortress

Monument type: Fortress

Region: Lori Province

Community: Alaverdi

Residence: Between Haghpat and Akner villages

Location: South-western part of the Haghpat village, on a high, narrow promontory bordered by precipitous rocks

Preservation: The walls and towers, as well as the castle church have been preserved.

Coordinates: 40°27’39” N 44°39’16” E

Altitude: 840 m

Era and chronology: The castle dates back to the High Middle Ages, XIII century.

Kayan Fortress: An Emblem of Strength Between Two Monasteries

All you need is one look at this 13th-century stronghold to fall under the spell of its majestic presence.

This 13th-century stronghold is perched on a triangular promontory, standing proudly at an elevation of 840 meters. Surrounded by deep gorges, it occupies a strategic location between two renowned monastic complexes of Armenia: Haghpat and Sanahin.

If only its stones could speak, they would tell tales of valor and resilience deserving of a medal of honor.

For centuries, Kayan served as one of Armenia’s strongest defensive points, safeguarding countless lives. It provided refuge to villagers and monks fleeing persecution, offering them protection within its sturdy walls. Legend even suggests that the Holy Sign, the sacred symbol on Christ’s cross, was safeguarded within its walls, adding a touch of mysticism to this already impressive place.

Kayan Fortress stands as a testament to the strength and resilience of the people who sought refuge within its walls and continues to awe visitors with its rich historical significance and breathtaking setting.

The exact founding date of the Kayan Fortress remains shrouded in mystery. However, historians speculate that a fortress predated its current form and was present at the site before being destroyed in 1178. In 1233, the bishop of Haghpat, Lord Hovhannes, took on the arduous endeavor of restoring the fortress.

During its restoration, advanced fortification techniques were employed to transform Kayan into an impregnable defensive structure for its time. Approximately eighteen semi-cylindrical pyramids and defensive walls were strategically placed to enhance its protection against potential threats. These measures were aimed at reinforcing the fortress and making it highly resilient to enemy attacks.

The main entrance of the Kayan Fortress is situated on its southern side, seamlessly connecting to the nearby village. The fortress itself extends approximately 120 meters in length, stretching from the southern to the northern direction. However, its width does not exceed 20 meters, showcasing the compact yet formidable nature of the structure.

The Kayan Fortress is divided into two distinct sections. The primary portion is located in the southern part of the complex, situated at a higher elevation. It is separated from the northern section by an individual wall. This division adds to the strategic layout and defensive capabilities of the fortress.

In the southern part lies the petite yet striking Saint Astvatsatsin church, also known as Dsevank. Perched atop the cliff on the eastern side, the church is prominently visible from the surrounding area. Its exterior design takes on a rectangular shape, while the interior reveals a cross-shaped layout, adding to its architectural allure.

The northern section, positioned right on the edge of the Debed Gorge, is approximately one and a half times smaller than the southern part. It possesses its own separate entrance on the western side. Within the fortress, the remnants of numerous dwellings, water basins, and aqueducts have been preserved, giving us an idea of its past grandeur.

During the castle’s cleaning, fragments of cross stones, tombstones, and inscription stones were discovered, uncovering valuable historical and cultural artifacts.

FACTS

❈ Kayan is one of Armenia’s most significant strongholds, dating back to 1233. However, some argue that the structure is even a century older than that.

❈ The fortress was strategically built between two of Armenia’s most famous monastic complexes: Haghpat and Sanahin. The site also offers an impressively scenic view.

❈ Kayan served as a life-saving refuge for Armenians throughout the centuries. Within those powerful walls, thousands sought refuge when facing persecution.

❈ According to legend, the Holy Sign, which was placed on Christ’s cross, was preserved here after being brought by the virgin Hripsime.

❈ It was built using impressive fortification techniques and defensive structures, making it one of the most powerful fortresses of its time.

🔍 Research history

Some of the authors (M. Hovhannisyan, H. Yeghiazaryan) having referred to the history, architecture and lithographs of the castle, believe that Hovhannes, the abbot of Haghpat, did not build but rebuilt the castle. Davti Kobayretsi had a reference on the Kayan impregnable fortress in 1178, which states that it was destroyed by the Seljuk-Turks, and was restored by Lord Hovhannes in 1233 with great difficulty.

🧱 Archaeological description

Location
Serving as a shelter for the residents of the Haghpatavank Congregation and the surrounding villages, Kayan fortress is surrounded by deep gorges on the three sides.

Stratigraphy
It is one of the prominent spiritual and cultural centers of medieval Armenia. The first testimony about the monument was preserved in “Yaismavurk”, on the occasion of enshrining the relics of St. Sarkis here by M. Mashtots and establishing a monastery. In the monastery inscriptions itis also called St. Sarkis the Warrior. The second stage of the monastery’s blooming period refers back to the XIII-XIV centuries and coincides with the construction activities of the Vachutian’s royal family house. During that period St. Astvatsatsin Church, the courtyard, and the bell tower were built. The third construction phase refers to the 17th century, when Voskan Yerevantsy was appointed abbot of the monastery. In 1654-1662 the outer colonnade on the west side of the church and vestibule, various buildings were built with his efforts (guest house, refectory, cloisters), and the monastery was surrounded by an enclosure. In the first half of XVIII century, the monastery was abandoned and eventually destroyed in 1827.

Architecture
The natural protection of the fortress was reinforced with about one and a half dozen semi-cylindrical pyramids and defensive walls. The pyramids have an internal space, and there are some openings in the walls for defensive purposes. The main entrance is from the southern side, where the promontory is connected to the village through Jaghatsadzor. The road passes over the single-span arched bridge in the canyon (XIII century) built over the Sherek River. The fortress stretches about 120 m to the south-north, and the maximum width does not exceed 20 meters. It consists of two parts: the main is the southern one, placed higher and detached from the northern part by a separate wall, with a porticoed gate inside (currently in a ruined state). The northern part, located immediately on the edge of the Debed gorge, is about one and a half times less than the southern part. It had its own separate entrance from the western side. The ruins of a large number of dwellings, remains of water basins and aqueducts have been preserved inside.

There is a small domed Saint Astvatsatsin church of Dsevank (Drsevank) in the southern part of the area, on top of the cliff on the eastern side, visible from the surrounding area; it is rectangular on the outside and cross-shaped on the inside. The entrance is from the west with a molded pediment. The entrance lintel stands out with its three separate stones: the middle one has a cruciform wing form, and the other two ones are attached to it. The low-sided symmetry of the drum, the cutting of the belt from the window openings, in fact, indicate that the dome has been remodeled. The inscription carved along the entire length of the façade, above the entrance, state that the fortress and the church were built by Hovhannes, the abbot of Haghpat, Zakare and Ivane Zakaryans’ nephew in 1233.

🔨 Findings

During the cleaning of the castle, fragments of cross stones, tombstones and inscription stones were found.

🌍 Significance

Kayan Fortress was one of the important defensive strongholds of medieval Armenia and has interesting fortification techniques. As an observatory fortress, due to its elevated location, it was overlooking the entire canyon and the surrounding shrines.

📜 Traditional legends

According to the legend, the Holy Sign was kept here. It was the sign of Christ’s cross, brought to Armenia by Virgin Hripsime.

📚 Sources

Literature

Divan of the Armenian lithography 2012, school IX, Lori region, compiled by S. Barkhudaryan, K. Ghafadaryan, S. Saghumyan, Yerevan, “Science”, 612 pages.
Yeghiazaryan H. 1952, Cultural monuments of Alaverdi region, Yerevan, 106 pages.
Hovhannesyan M. 1970, Fortresses of Armenia, Venice-St. Lazar, 745 pages.
Ghafadaryan K. 1963, Haghbat, architectural structures and stele inscriptions, Yerevan, USSR Academy of the Sciences ed., 293 pages.
Shakhkyan G. 1986, Lori. Stone pages of history, Yerevan, Armenia, 184 pages.

List of monuments.
Lori 5.60.2

📷 Gallery

General plan of Kayan fortress (Shakhkyan 1986).
The fortress from the opposite hill (photo by D. Davtyan).
The view of the castle from the south (photo by D. Davtyan).
One of the castle towers and the church (photo by D. Davtyan).
One of the towers of the castle built directly on the rock (photo by D. Davtyan).
A view from the fortress wall (photo by D. Davtyan).
A view from the castle (photo by D. Davtyan).
Dsevank from the south-west (photo by D. Davtyan).
A View from the north-west (photo by D. Davtyan).
The north-western corner of the church (photo by D. Davtyan).
Drsevank dome (photo by D. Davtyan).
The middle stone resembling a cruciform wing on the entrance lintel (photo by D. Davtyan).
Detail of the entrance design (photo by D. Davtyan).
The beginning of the inscription of the church (photo by D. Davtyan).
The middle part of the inscription (photo by D. Davtyan).
The third part of the inscription (photo by D. Davtyan).