Makenis Monastery

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

Name: Makenis Monastery

Other nominations: Makenyats Monastery, Monastery of Makenotsats, Makenots, Makestenits

Monument type: Monastery complex

Region: Gegharkunik

Community: Vardenis

Residence: Makenis village

Location: Western edge of the village, the right side of the Karchaghbyur river.

Preservation: Restored

Coordinates: 40°07´30˝N 45°36´48˝E

Elevation: 2187 m

Era and chronology: VII-XIX centuries, Early, High and Late Middle Ages

Makenyats Monastery: The Holy Haven of Vardenis

As you stand in awe of Makenyats Monastery, you are reminded that this place isn’t just a historical relic; it’s a testament to human perseverance, spirituality, and the unbreakable bonds of faith that have endured for centuries.

As one of the most prominent monasteries in the region, Makenyats played a significant role in overseeing education and church services, giving rise to many high-ranking clergy.

Here, you can still hear the echoes of ancient prayers resonating, and the precious stories etched in its stones yearn to be told to anyone who appreciates the rich history and cultural significance it holds.

Nestled in the picturesque Vardenis community of Gegharkunik region’s Makenyats Monastery is a place that breathes life into the pages of Armenian history. At an elevation of 2,187 meters, it boasts a unique location on a hillside, sheltered by canyons from the west and south, and encircled by imposing walls that have guarded its secrets for generations.

The story of this Monastery unfolds across the span of many centuries, dating back to the early 7th century. It is said that the its reputation began to flourish in 701, under the leadership of Father Solomon. However, its journey through time was not without trials and tribulations. In the 9th century, the congregation was scattered, and the monastery faced destruction at the hands of the Babek raids from Atrpatak in 827.

Yet, Makenyats Monastery proved to be resilient. In the 9th century, it experienced a revival under the patronage of the last Prince Grigor Supan II, who oversaw the construction of the magnificent St. Astvatsatsin Church. This restoration transformed Makenyats into a renowned center of education, culture, and scholarly pursuit. Its economy flourished thanks to generous donations, drawing students from all corners of Armenia to its hallowed halls. Legends were born within these stone walls—Stepanos Syunetsi, Prince Vahan Goghtnetsi, Catholicoses Soghomon I Garnetsi, and Mashtots I Yeghvardetsi all honed their intellects here.

In fact, known as the “monastery of the great capital Makenotsats’’, it played a pivotal role in shaping education and church service, nurturing generations of high-ranking clergymen. It stood as a beacon of faith and knowledge in the heart of Armenia.

The architectural grandeur of the edifice is awe-inspiring. The complex comprises St. Astvatsatsin Church, a single-nave vaulted church, a vestibule, and remnants of other structures. Two additional walled churches grace the southeastern side outside the main enclosure, bearing witness to the passage of time. In the monastery’s yard, ancient cross-stones, dating from the 9th to the 17th centuries, stand as silent sentinels to the monastery’s enduring spirit.

St. Astvatsatsin Church, the centerpiece of this sacred haven, stands as a testament to the devotion of Prince Grigor Supan II. Its architectural elegance, with three semicircular and one rectangular apses, and two-story warehouses in the corners, is a testament to Armenian craftsmanship. Inside, a high-relief sculpture of a galloping, saddled horse adorns the lintel, while other sculptures add to its mystique. The church’s dark brown coarse tuff and hewn stones whisper stories of centuries past.

As the centuries passed, the monastery underwent several renovations, preserving its spiritual and architectural beauty for posterity. Despite a brief hiatus, the monastery experienced a renaissance in the 1980s when it was lovingly restored, breathing new life into its ancient stones.

But Makenyats Monastery is not just a collection of stones; it’s a repository of legends and stories that add to its mystique. The name “Makenyats” is said to be linked to the woolen garments worn by its congregation, a simple yet profound connection to the everyday lives of the faithful.

FACTS

❈ Makenyats Monastery, located in the Vardenis community of Armenia’s Gegharkunik region, is a historic site with a unique hillside location and protective walls, elevated at 2,187 meters.

❈ Dating back to the early 7th century, its journey through time faced trials, including destruction during the 9th century Babek raids, but it later experienced revival and growth under Prince Grigor Supan II.

❈ The monastery became a renowned center of education, culture, and scholarship, nurturing the intellects of figures like Stepanos Syunetsi, Prince Vahan Goghtnetsi, Catholicoses Soghomon I Garnetsi, and Mashtots I Yeghvardetsi.

❈ Makenyats Monastery played a pivotal role in shaping education and church service, earning its reputation as the “monastery of the great capital Makenotsats.”

❈ The architectural grandeur of the complex, including St. Astvatsatsin Church and ancient cross-stones in the yard, showcases Armenian craftsmanship and
historical significance.

❈ The monastery has undergone renovations over the centuries and a more recent restoration in the 1980s, preserving its spiritual and architectural beauty.

❈ Its name “Makenyats” is thought to be connected to the woolen garments worn by its congregation, reflecting a simple yet profound link to the lives of the faithful.

Research history

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

Archaeological description

Location
It is located on a hillside protected by canyons from the west and south. It is surrounded by high walls.

Stratigraphy
The Makenyats monastery was founded before the 8th century. Its fame was known as early as 701, when the father of the Fathers Solomon was the leader of the monastery. At the beginning of the IX century the congregation was dispersed. The monastery was destroyed as a result of the Babek raids arrived from Atrpatak in 827. It was restored in the IX century under the patronage of the last Prince Grigor Supan II, and the main St. Astvatsatsin Church was built. The monastery became a famous educational, cultural and writing center, due to donations the economy expanded. People from different parts of Armenia came to study at the Makenyats monastery. Stepanos Syunetsi, Prince Vahan Goghtnetsi, Catholicoses Soghomon I Garnetsi and Mashtots I Yeghvardetsi studied here. Catholicos Hovhannes D Ovayetsi died while traveling in Gegharkunik province and was buried in the Makenyats monastery.

According to the lithographs preserved on the walls, the monastery was renovated for several times in the XVIII century. It functioned until 1878 and was restored in the 1980s.

Architecture

The monastery complex consists of two parts: in the enclosed area are St. Astvatsatsin Church, single-nave vaulted church, the vestibule and remains of other buildings. Outside the wall, on the south-eastern side, there are two more walled churches. There are IX-XVII century cross-stones in the yard.

St. Astvatsatsin (Holy Mother) Church is the main structure of the complex founded by Prince Grigor Supan II based on the partially preserved inscription on the church walls; the latter’s content fully reached to us by the XIII century historian Stepanos Orbelyan.

The church is a cross-domed structure embedded in a rectangular border with three semicircular and one rectangular apses. It has two-story

warehouses in four corners. The entrances to the eastern repositories open in the northern and southern apses, and the one to the western side opens in the western rectangular transept. Interestingly, the north-western vestry window opens into the church. The transition from the central square to the drum of the dome was carried out by a two-row trumpet system. The only entrance is on the western front. Inside, on the lintel, there is a high-relief structure of a galloping, saddled horse. There are other sculptures inside the church. Outside, in the south-eastern corner of the church, in the lower part, a pedestal stone with the scene “Daniel in the lion’s den” was used in the arrangement.

The church was built with dark brown coarse tuff, and the responsible parts with hewn stones. The eastern facade was formed by a pair of triangular niches.

The church underwent further renovations, traces of which can be seen both internally and externally. The belfry rotunda was added to the upper part of the western concrete wall during the last reconstruction.

The single-nave church is adjacent to the south-eastern side built earlier than St. Astvatsatsin Church. It is a rectangular vaulted building with a semicircular apse on the eastern side. The only entrance is on the northern facade.

Gavit (the vestibule) is on the western side of St. Astvatsatsin, it is a simple building built with square rough stones, of which only the foundation walls have been preserved.

The enclosure is built of rough stones. The main entrance is on the north-western side.

The two churches adjacent to each other were built in the IX-X centuries; the northern one was built earlier. They were built with basalt hewn stones. They are small buildings with a rectangular plan and an eastern apse. The entrances to both churches are located on the western sides of the southern facades. The two rosettes on the eastern facade of the northern church stand out with their simple exterior decoration, while the arches of the windows are exceptional with their woven decorations.

Significance

The monastery was so famous that it was called “the monastery of the great capital Makenotsats”. It had a significant role in regulating the education and church service, generated many high-ranking clergymen. The Makenyats monastery was separated from the Syunyats metropolitan see and was the center of the diocese of Gegharkunik province.

📜 Traditional legends

The name Makenyats is associated with the wearing of woolen clothes by the congregation.

Sources

Literature

Hovhannes Draskhanakertsi 1996, History of Armenia (translated by G. Tosunyan), Yerevan, Yerevan University Publishing House, 397 pages.
Stepanos Orbelyan 1986, History of Syunik (translated by A. Abrahamyan), Yerevan, “Soviet writer”, 615 pages.
Mnatsakanyan S. 1960, Syunik School of Armenian Architecture, Yerevan, USSR State Publishing House, 267 pages.
Smbatyants M. 1895, Topographer of Gegharkunik Tsovazard Province, Vagharshapat, Mother See of St. Etchmiadzin, 843 pages.

List of monuments

Gegharkunik 5.64/9